RCMP to mark National Stem Cell Awareness Week: Over 800 patients in Canada currently searching for life-saving stem cell match

REGINA, Nov. 17, 2009 — On Monday, November 16th, OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, the Canadian Blood Services’ stem cell program, launched National Stem Cell Awareness Week with its Partners Uniting Lives campaign.

Partners Uniting Lives will highlight the vital link between stem cell donors, transplant centres, diverse communities and the hundreds of patients in Canada desperately hoping for a stem cell transplant.

On Saturday, November 21st, Canadian Blood Services and its partners, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police “Depot” Division and the Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society, will mark National Stem Cell Awareness Week with cadets from the RCMP Academy completing the buccal swab as they register for the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network.  Employees have been invited to register on Friday, November 20th.

Only 30 per cent of patients in need of a stem cell transplant will find a match within their own family; the rest turn to OneMatch. The network is currently searching for stem cell matches for over 800 patients across the country—patients suffering from life-threatening illnesses such leukemia, aplastic anaemia or various immune disorders.

The best chance of finding a match for patients is within their own ethnic group, making outreach to diverse communities a major part of the OneMatch donor recruitment strategy.

There are more than 253,000 prospective donors currently on the OneMatch Network in Canada.  Caucasians make up 82 per cent of registrants.

“Unfortunately, we continue to need more ethnically diverse donors to keep up with many patients currently waiting for an unrelated match,” confirms Jennifer Philippe, Director of the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network.

“We salute our partners who are acutely important to building a stem cell program for all Canadians that addresses such issues as diversity, but at the same time, offers practical and financial support to our existing or new programs,” explains Philippe.

“The Force is proud to partner with Canadian Blood Services in promoting OneMatch,” says Assistant Commissioner Roger L. Brown, Commanding Officer, “Depot” Division.  “Depot is in a unique position to assist in this endeavour, as our cadet population reflects our country’s ethnic diversity.  It is my hope that our newly-engaged members will not only become leaders in the communities in which they are posted across Canada, but also ambassadors for the One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Network,” concludes Brown.

According to retired RCMP staff sergeant Larry Misner, President of the Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society, Canada’s aboriginal community is unique in that their marrow cannot be matched internationally.

“Our members are working to help raise awareness of the need for the aboriginal community to join the Network,” said Misner. “As potential bone marrow donors reach upper age limits, younger ones are needed to take their place,” Misner added.

“Not every person who joins the program may be asked to donate stem cells, but every person who joins gives additional hope to a stem cell transplant patient no matter how they help,” says Jennifer Philippe. “This action may very well be the one match that saves a life.”

In other parts of the country, events will be held highlighting community sponsored In Honour blood donor clinics. Each event is strategically positioned to call attention to the many steps to providing healthy and committed stem cell donors for Canada’s stem cell network.

The quickest way to register as a possible stem cell donor is through the online registration form at www.onematch.ca. You can also call Canadian Blood Services at 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to have a registration package mailed to your address.

About Canadian Blood Services

Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the supply of blood and blood products in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec. Canadian Blood Services also oversees the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network and provides national leadership for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Canadian Blood Services operates 41 permanent collection sites and more than 20,000 donor clinics annually. The provincial and territorial Ministries of Health provide operational funding to Canadian Blood Services. The federal government, through Health Canada, is responsible for regulating the blood system. For more information, please visit their website at www.blood.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Marie R. Patterson, Communications Strategist
RCMP “Depot” Division
Tel: 306-780-5707
Cell: 306-537-1307

Michael Hyduk
Communications Specialist
Canadian Blood Services
Tel: 204-789-1066
Cell: 204-794-5358