Bone Marrow and Stem Cells
Join The Registry
I Joined The Registry...
If you have joined the Bone Marrow Registry add yourself to the "I Joined" list and let others know you have made a difference.
Click here to sign the"I Joined" guestbook
Here are the last few people that signed the guestbook:
I Joined!
Claudia Vaca
Brentwood, NY
Joined 2013
"I am advocating for my niece, DIANA NOVA, she DESPERATELY needs to find a match. "
Sherry Ducedre
Amherstburg , ONTARIO
Joined 2005 (8 years)
shravanthi gadi
brampton, TORONTO
Joined 2013
charanjeet singh
ludhiana, PUNJAB
Joined 2012 (1 year)
"i want to join for this for helping other peoples"
Manmeet Singh
Kitchener, ONTARIO
Joined 2008 (5 years)
a complete list.
* People listed with a butterfly icon show that they were inspired to join the Bone Marrow Registry after visiting this website.
Video
Our YouTube video provides some basic information about the bone marrow registry and why it is critical that people of all ethnic backgrounds join the registry today.
Photos
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News
Thursday. June 6, 2013
Research Update 2013 by Drew Kidd
The past year has been one of the most exciting for the KBBMA on the research front. Certainly, a highlight for the organization was bringing Dr. Claude Perreault of the University of Montreal, the head of one of the two research teams currently being funded by the KBBMA, down to Windsor for a public speaking engagement. For his public talk, Dr. Perreault discussed the efforts of his lab to combat graft versus host disease (GVHD) through enhancement of graft versus leukemia (GVL), the ability of donor T-cells to combat cancerous cells in the host body. The Perreault lab has been able to decrease the risk of rejection and GVHD by targeting the MiHAs (the cell receptors governing the body's immune responses) with specially primed T-cells that are injected directly into the patient. Early clinical trials have demonstrated that this treatment can reduce the risk of GVHD down to 10%, potentially reducing patient mortality in Canada alone from 60,000 to an estimated 1,600 a year. Dr. Perreault discussed his research in further detail at another talk at the University of Windsor; both talks were tremendous successes and we would like to thank the Caboto Club, the Department of Biology at the University of Windsor and especially Dr. Lisa Porter of the University of Windsor, head of the other research team funded by the KBBMA, for all their help and hard work in organizing them.
Far from being a dry discussion of the science behind his work, Dr. Perreault provided a vibrant, personal story of a life in research, and he also provided some words of advice to any aspiring young scientists in the audience. Among them were two students at Vincent Massey Secondary School, Melanie Grondin and Shawn Liu, who had recently made not just their school but their entire city proud. As Windsor's first participants in the national BioGENEius competition, Shawn and Melanie followed up some of the work that Porter lab grad student Kaitlyn Matthews had completed on how gene expression levels change as bone marrow cells divide and grow, and used this data to identify markers for at-risk cultures. Their work has the potential to more safely expand and control bone marrow cultures in a lab or hospital setting. Melanie and Shawn were rewarded with first prize at the Regional Competition for Southwestern Ontario, as well as awards for Best Genomics Project and Best Entry From a New Participating School, and subsequently competed at the National Competition in Ottawa where they received an Honorable Mention for their work. Through its funding of Kaitlyn, who mentored Shawn and Melanie throughout the entire process, the KBBMA was able to provide financial support for their work, and we wish both of these promising young scientists the best in the future!
Both Kaitlyn and her fellow Porter lab graduate student Ingrid Qemo have continued their very impressive work at the University of Windsor through funding provided by the KBBMA. Kaitlyn completed her Master's Thesis, “The Role of Spy1 in Hematopoiesis: Implications for Blood Malignancies,” in December. Kaitlyn found that the cell cycle regulator Spy1 is more highly expressed in the early stages of blood stem cell growth and that it drops off as the cells mature, implying that it plays an important role in retaining stem cell characteristics. She further discovered that when Spy1 is removed from human leukemia cells, they decrease in growth and proliferation. Kaitlyn is currently preparing her findings for publication, as well as mentoring a new undergraduate student, Jack Pfaff, for a project on the role of Spy1 in multiple myeloma. Ingrid's work has focused on the role of Spy1 in generating safe stem cell cultures for future bone marrow transplantation therapies. By examining the precise mechanisms behind this particular protein's role in stem cell growth and development, she has demonstrated the possibility of more safe and efficient means of growing, generating and expanding existing stem cell cultures for cancer patients. On the basis of this work, she was awarded an Ontario Graduate Scholarship to continue her efforts. Both Ingrid and Kaitlyn would like to thank the KBBMA for all their help and support, and we in turn would like to thank them, as well as Dr. Porter and Dr. Perreault, for making us proud!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Get Swabbed Events in Honour of Lori
As a mother, wife and elementary school teacher, Lori is very busy. So when she started to feel tried, she blamed it on the “Busy Mom Syndrome”. Only after much blood work and three bone marrow biopsies did Lori learn that she had a different syndrome- Myelodyplastic Syndrome (MDS). Lori’s best hope to getting her health and continuing in her normal Mom duties is a stem cell transplant.
Lori’s hope that her story will inspire people to register with OneMatch to help patients, like her. You can make a difference in your community, your country and around the world by registering at onematch.ca
Wednesday, June 12 - 4pm-8pm Recreation Centre 242 Talbot St North, Essex
Thursday, June 13 - 4pm-8pm CBS Office 3909 Grand Marais Rd East
Monday, April 22, 2013
Parks & Rec BBQ and Bake Sale Swab Event
Get Swabbed! Thursday, May 30 11:30am to 2:00pm at 2461 McDougall Ave.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
St Clair College Swab Event
Get Swabbed! Monday March 25, 2013 10am to 4pm at St. Clair College.
A Journey in Bone Marrow Transplantation
Thursday, April 4, 2013 at the Caboto Club with guest speaker Dr. Claude Perreault.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Family Calls for Stem Cell Donors
13 year old Alex Blake’s family are calling on people to join the marrow registry in hopes that a match can be found for their daughter.
Diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia Alex has already undergone several days of chemotherapy in hopes to push the cancer into remission and now needs a stem cell transplant in hopes of developing a new immune system.
You can read the full article at CBC News website.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Altered Immune Cells Beat Leukemia
An experimental treatment using a disabled form of the virus that causes AIDS has been used to reprogram a young girl’s immune system to genetically kill cancer cells.
Photo by Jeff Swensen for The New York Times
Emma, who had been sick with acute lymphoblastic leukemia since she was 5 had relapsed twice after undergoing chemotherapy. Running out of options her parents turned to an experimental treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
You can read the full article at The New York Times website.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
National Public Cord Blood Banking Program
This past weekend One Match openned its new National Public Cord Blood Banking program.
Click here to view the CBC story.
Operation Alysha Blood Donor Drive
If you live in the Guelph area please come out and support the Operation Alysha blood drive Thursday November 29th, 5-7pm at Silvercreek Parkway Blood Donor Clinic.
For more information visit the Operation Alysha website.
Tuesday, November 6th, 2012
Cord Blood Collection Will Be Phased into Canadian Hospitals
Cord Blood Collection Will Be Phased into Canadian Hospitals
Cord Blood collection will be phased in over the next few years in hospitals for mothers in Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver .
Click here to view One Match brochure with more details.
Friday, November 2nd, 2012
Bruce Crozier Bill 80 November Bone Marrow Awareness Month
It was a very emotional day for us when our friend, the late MPP Bruce Crozier succeeded in making November "Bone Marrow Awareness Month" in the province of Ontario. Here is a clip of the historic event we witnessed first-hand in Queen's Park.
Friday, October 26th, 2012
OneMatch University of Windsor Swab Event
Click Here to View Full Size Flyer
Get Swabbed!
November 1, 2012 - Thursday
University of Windsor 3 Campuses
CAW Student Centre, Toldo Building West Lobby and St Denis Centre - 10am to 6pm
Special Need for Registrants Who Are:
• 17 to 35 year old males who are ethnically diverse;
• in good general health; and,
• willing to donate to any patient in need.
You can join OneMatch at www.onematch.ca
Monday, October 15th, 2012
OneMatch Registration in Honour of Manjot
Click Here to View Full Size Flyer
Sikh Cultural Society of Metropolitan Windsor
7955 County Road 42, Maidstone ON
Sunday, October 21
12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Special Need for Registrants Who Are:
• Ethnically diverse males between 17 and 35 years of age;
• In good general health; and,
• Willing to donate to any patient in need.
You can join OneMatch at www.onematch.ca
Monday, June 18th, 2012
Get Swabbed! In Honour of Pamela
Get Swabbed! In honour of Pamela, a local woman who is in urgent need of a life saving Stem Cell/Bone Marrow transplant.
Hosted by the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association, you can register as a potential donor on Saturday, June 23 1pm-5pm at the Atkinson Memorial Centre 4270 Alice Street, ( Alice & Bernard Rd) Windsor.
Registrants aged 17-50 are welcome however their is an urgent, specific need for optimal donors who are Males aged 17-35 and who are ethnically diverse.
In just 5 minutes you could save a life!
Click Here to View Full Size Flyer
Chatham-Kent Get Swabbed Event
Gabriela Deryck of Chatham was among the approximately 40 people who took part in the Get Swabbed event at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre on June 2. Held as a function of the Welcome Home Chatham-Kent weekend, the goal was to find matching donors for cancer victims in need of a blood stem cell or bone marrow transplant.
Read the full story by Don Robinet, at the Chatham This Week website.
Thursday, June 7th, 2012
What kinds of donors are needed?
Right now there is a special need for ethnic males aged 17 to 35.
If you are healthy, between the ages of 17 and 50, and are willing to donate stem cells to anyone in need, you may be able to help. The genetic markers used to match donors to patients occur with different frequencies in different ethnic groups. For this reason, a person's best chance of finding a matching donor is within his or her own ethnic group. Therefore, donors from as many ethnic communities as possible are needed to enhance the database so it has a broad ethnic representation that reflects the needs of all Canadian patients.
While OneMatch has made advances in attracting more ethnically-diverse registrants, there is still room to grow. As of October 2008, 83 per cent of Canada's Network is Caucasian and the remaining 17 per cent is of various ethnic backgrounds. Yet one in five Canadians identifies themselves as foreign born according to the 2006 Census.
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
Why Patients Need an “Optimal” Donor Base in Canada
As the future of stem cell transplantation gets brighter, the demand for quality stem cell products continues to grow. To keep pace with this demand and to ensure the best possible donors for our Canadian patients and those around the world, OneMatch continues with its pursuit to create the optimal donor base.
Through consultations with partners and the transplant community, we recognize that young, male and ethnically diverse donors are most often the optimal donor for patients in need. Young male donors often provide good results for patients post-transplant by reducing chances of graft-versus-host disease. As a result, starting in 2012 OneMatch will focus its recruitment efforts on ethnically diverse men between the ages of 17 and 35.
Knowing young men are most likely to be the choice donor, developing the optimal donor base is especially significant in Canada. Recent statistics paint a clear picture of the need:
- The OneMatch Network has 309,000 searchable registrants;
- Only 31 per cent of the Network is under 36 years old and only 10 per cent are males under the age of 36; and
- Of this 10 per cent, only 4 per cent are from different ethnic backgrounds.
At any given time we must provide the more than 950 Canadian patients waiting for their “one match” with a better chance of finding their donor.
Community education and outreach is the first step to raising awareness and recruitment. For example, university students across Canada contributed to OneMatch with its third annual Get Swabbed! University Challenge. Twenty campuses from coast to coast organized stem cell registration drives focusing on getting more young men to join the registry. Students continue to embrace the recruitment challenge as an effective and engaging way to give back. Queens University is one of the many examples of how raising awareness can benefit recruitment. Students at the university registered young men and educated the young women on the need for male donors. In turn, young women recruited male students to register in their place, or made appointments to donate blood and help patients in need of blood products. The stories from other participating universities are similar. Together the 20 participating schools provided an influx of 7,578 new registrants, 3824 (or 53 per cent) of whom are young, ethnically diverse male donors, all with the potential to help patients in need for many years to come.
Taking this direction in all future recruitment efforts, OneMatch will be on track to creating the optimal registry of Canadian donors for all our patients.
Wednesday, March 28th 2012
Thank You St. Clair College Students
Tuesday, March 27th, 146 students from St. Clair College swabbed their cheeks to save lives.
Photograph by: Tyler Brownbridge, The Windsor Star
Tuesday, March 13th 2012
Get Swabbed Event
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
St. Clair College
Centre for Applied Health
Sciences & Main Campus
Multi Purpose Room
In just 5 minutes, you could change a life forever.
Currently more than 900 patients are looking for a match in Canada. You could be that match.
You can be the one match to save a life.
Special Specific Need For:
- 17 to 35 year old males who are ethnically diverse;
- in good general health; and,
- willing to donate to any patient in need
Vist www.facebook.com/onematch for more details or download the poster.
Monday, March 5th 2012
Bone Marrow Donor, Survivor Meet for First Time
Get ready to cry! This story was made possible by those inspired by Katie. A bone marrow drive held by Katie's cousin in her honour led to this match. We have always said that if we only help one person then all our efforts were worthwhile. By why stop now? Let's keep it up and save more lives!
- Read the full story at fayetteville.11alive.com
Tuesday, January 24th 2012
OneMatch Recipient Story - Dr. Abhijit Guha
This is Dr. Guha's story. Dr. Guha was the driving force behind increased South Asian participation in blood and stem cell donation. Sadly, he lost his battle with leukemia on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. Dr. Guha was a respected community leader who fought courageously through his personal fight with leukemia to encourage all Canadian South Asians to make stem cell and blood donation a part of their civic responsibilities for all patients.
Tecumseh, Ontario Man Seeks Donor
A 54-year-old Tecumseh man finally celebrated Christmas with his family Saturday.
Ever since he was diagnosed last September with multiple myeloma - a cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow - Jim Beneteau found his life reduced to a "slow pace" spiked with anxiety.
- Read the full story at The Windsor Star.
Tuesday, December 20th 2011
In Memory of Ken Roughton – Founding Board Member of Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association
Ken was a founding board member of the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association founded in July 2005 and has remained on the board to this day.
He played an important part in the early stages of the organization as a committee member of the Transplant Family Support Program. His input helped to formulate the principles and guidelines of the program and he was the liaison person for the program at the Windsor Cancer Clinic.
Ken strongly advocated for people to join the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network through his many connections in Windsor, Hamilton and Toronto. He also encouraged those eligible to donate blood as he knew the value of both of these gifts of life.
In 2006, Ken was instrumental in the production of a Wellness Brochure designed, published, printed, and distributed ( to over 23,000 households) by the Chrysler Wellness Committee. The 4-page brochure highlighted the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association , the pressing need for registration of potential bone marrow donors and a description of the process in becoming a donor.
On the fundraising front, Ken was the pivotal key in organizing and directing the proceeds from the John Fox Memorial Charity Golf Tournament to the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association. It was always a great day of golf, camaraderie and excellent food. Over a span of 4 years $20,000.00 was raised for our association. Ken supported and was present at all other fundraising events which included our Annual Bowl-a-thon « Throw a Strike for the Gift of Life » - so named by Ken and unanimously approved by the board!
For the past couple of years Ken’s health did not permit him to attend all board meetings; however, he always responded by e-mail and provided very valuable input and sage advice on all matters. He truly made a difference and made an impact in the lives of many.
Ken was a very affable man, kind hearted, sincere, soft spoken and caring. He was a man of integrity and extremely intelligent. We will miss him and our hearts are heavy with the loss of our dear friend. Rest peacefully Ken, and we know that you are now free from your pain and suffering and safe in the arms of Jesus.
Our most sincere condolences to Ken’s sons Brad, Ben and Matthew, his mother, sisters, and extended family members.
Bryan, Joanne, Rene and Melba Bedard
On behalf of the
Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association
- Read the full story at The Windsor Star.
Tuesday, November 1st 2011
Father Wages Bone Marrow Campaign in Daughter's Memory
November 1st marks the beginning of Bone Marrow Awareness Month and to help kick it off Universities across Ontario will be holding Get Swabbed University Challenges. More than 900 people across Canada are still searching for a bone marrow donor, last year more than 250 students registered at the University of Windsor and Bryan Bedard the father of Katelyn Bedard hopes to get 300 this year.
"First hand we experienced the tragedy of when there's not that matching person ... so we need to get more people registered and we'll save even more lives."
The University of Windsor event will be held on Tuesday at the CAW Student Centre, 401 Sunset Ave. from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, October 18th 2011
Canadian Blood Services Needs Blood Donations Now
Try their new online appointment booking system! It is so easy. Go to www.blood.ca to book your appointment today. Are you a blood donor and would like to help the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association?
Join our team and help us save lives! Give blood!
To join our team:
- Go to www.blood.ca/partnersforlife
- Click "Join Partners for Life"
- Click "Member"
- Click "Sign me up to donate with my team!"
- Complete the form and click "Submit"
Our Partner ID is : KATE007939
New donors can join our team after their 1st donation.
Wednesday, September 28th 2011
Summer Fundraising Success
Our summer fundraising events were a huge success again this year and we are truly thankful for all of the participants, volunteers and sponsors. We were blessed with beautiful weather at our outdoor events and we were left with memories of smiling faces and lots of laughs. Here is a recap of our summer fundraisers:
Day To Remember - June 4
The 8th annual golf tournament held at Wardsville Golf Club was a day of celebration to honour the lives of children who have lost their battle with cancer, those who are presently battling the disease and cancer survivors as well as other local children with life threatening illnesses. The morning started off overcast but the afternoon was full of sunshine with a high above 28 degrees. 116 people golfed 18 holes. 20 people came for supper only. Proceeds of the tournament to Camp Trillium and Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association. Our association received $7,100 in support of bone marrow transplant patients. Sincere thanks to Mike and Sandra Rombouts and the entire Day to Remember planning committee.
John Fox Memorial - July 23
In memory of a dear friend John Fox, the 10th annual golf tournament was held at Tilbury Public Course. More than 60 golfers enjoyed 18 challenging holes followed by a delicious rib and chicken dinner. Over $4,000 was raised for KBBMA at this event. Special thanks to Ken Roughton, Dennis Kelly and the entire John Fox Memorial planning committee.
Bowling for Bone Marrow - August 27
The 6th annual Bowling for Bone Marrow, "Throw a Strike for the Gift of Life" took place at Bowlero in Windsor and raised more than $22,000. More than 150 bowlers and volunteers were on hand to enjoy an afternoon of family fun with a magician, a clown, face painting, kid's games and lots of wonderful prizes. Thank you to everyone that came out and thank you to all of our generous sponsors:
Premier Sponsors
- National Bank Financial Group
- VIA Rail Canada
- Laura White – State Farm
- Scotiabank - Amy Croft Drive
- Avatar Software Creations Inc.
- Joan Gray
- JogTracker.com
Premier Sponsors
- Windsor East Kiwanis
- Diane Santing – Edward
- Jones
- Anthony Leardi, Barrister &
- Solicitor
- Nantais Source for Sports
- Windsor Pro Clean Services
- Ground Effects Ltd.
- In Memory of Anne Marie
- Souchereau
- In Memory of Marie Martin
- Sherdil Precision Inc.
- Gib & Arlene Williams
- L&H Diversified
- Manufacturing Inc.
- Medel Brothers Quality
- Meats & Deli
- In Memory of Paul Senay
- Alliance Windsor Insurance
- Brokers
- Cardinal Carter Catholic
- Secondary School
- Brad Bondy – Re/Max
- Preferred Realty
- Walmart 1072 Amherstburg
- Ravine Cottages
- Jeremie Bornais – K of C
- Insurance
- Ron Deneau – Bob Pedler
- Real Estate
- Knights of Columbus #2844
- – McGregor
- In Loving Memory Shelby
- Gagne
- Lacasse Printing
- Ted & Cindy Williams
- Ivanhoe Cambridge
- Meridian Credit Union
- In Memory of Hannah Young
- CAW Local 1973
- CAW Local 444
- Natalie’s Team
- Boodles of Baskets
- Bondy Insurance
- McGregor Squirettes of Mary
- Randy Barron CGA
- Gisele Sutton – Re/Max
- Preferred Realty
- T.J.’s Service Ltd. – Dean
- Bondy
- Jason Barron – K of C
- Insurance
- Mark’s Drapery Installations
- Chummettes Ladies
- Auxilliary
- St. Clair College Student
- Athletic Association
- St. Clair College Alumni
- Darryl & Paula Matthew
Prize Sponsors
- The Hungry Wolf Restaurant
- The Keg – Devonshire Mall
- Costco
- Debbie Simone – Avon
- Annette Martin
- Angela Williams
- Edythe Williams
- Willabee’s Clothing Store
- Montana’s
- Kelsey’s Walker Road
- La Rocca Italian Restaurant
- Cora Lakeshore
- Windsor Family Credit Union
- Sutton Creek Golf & Country Club
- Jason Barron – K of C Insurance
- Silver Stitch Embroidery
- Canadian Tire – Walker Road
- McGregor Home Hardware
- Ground Effects Ltd.
- Alliance Windsor Insurance
- Brokers
- Beth Churchmack
- Joan Gray
- Cathy Bondy and friends
Thursday, September 8th 2011
National Bank Charity Fun Run
The annual Charity Run is approaching, and the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association is again a competing charity and this year we are setting up our info table and children’s game area at the event.
Several charities will be represented at the event, and the charity that raises the most money receives additional cash prizes from the National Bank. So dust off the running shoes, do some stretching, and let the race begin!
Event Details:
- The 2011 Charity Challenge
- Sunday September 18, 2011
- Chrysler Building - Riverside Dr. & Ouellette Ave.
- Windsor, Ontario
- 9:00 AM
- Kid's Dash
- Kid's Kilometre
- 9:15 AM
- 8K Run
- 3K Run/Walk
- Download Pledge Form PDF
- Register Online at The Running Factory
Friday, July 8th 2011
Stem Cell Breakthrough Raises Hope Of Ending Hunt For Bone Marrow
Some exciting news was published in today's Globe and Mail:
It’s been a 50-year-old dream, and a 23-year hunt, but the immortal mother cell behind the billions of new blood cells humans make every day has at last been discovered – raising the possibility of growing a new blood system for any patient who needs it.
Scientists at Toronto’s University Health Network say they have finally captured the prized stem cell that endlessly replenishes human blood, a cell so powerful that one is enough to regenerate a human blood supply in a mouse.
Thursday, July 7th 2011
6 Year Old Raising Money For Sick Little Girl
Six-year-old Dmitri Rosescu holds up a photo of Emma Predinchuk, a Calgary baby waiting for a bone marrow transplant, in his home in Regina. He is drawing pictures and selling them to raise money for her.
Photograph by : Bryan Schlosser, Postmedia News
Tuesday, June 14th 2011
Swab Event
Tuesday, June 21 - 2 PM to 6 PM
Location: Season's Lakeshore
1700 County Road 22
Belle River, On
Each year, hundreds of Canadians are in need of stem cell transplants to treat potentially life-threatening illnesses. Fewer than 30% of patients will find a compatible donor from family member, 70% rely on the generosity of an unrelated donor for available sources of stem cells. Many unfortunately fall into this group and to survive, they must receive a stem cell transplant as do the more than 800 other patients in Canada.
Please join the registry.
Click here to view the PDF for the event.
Alice Pyne's "Bucket List" Goes Global
her beloved pet labrador Mabel, which
features twice in her ‘bucket list’.
Photo courtsy
of The Westmorland Gazette
Fifteen-year-old Alice Pyne who suffers from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma has created her "bucket list" from her hospital bed. Among the 17 items listed she would like everyone to sign up to be a bone marrow donor.
Alice's hope has made its way to Parliament where MP John Woodcock spoke during Prime Minister's Question Time, "“At the top of the list is a call to make everyone sign up to be a bone marrow donor, so we will work with the leader of the opposition to address why too few people are currently on this life-saving register?”
Wednesday, March 23rd 2011
Get Swabbed Windsor!
Join the One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Network and you could save a life!
The Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association will host a swab event outside the Augustus Ballroom at Caesars Windsor on Sunday, April 3rd from 7pm until 10pm. The swab event will be held in conjunction with the "Dancing With The Local Stars" event hosted by the Better World Today Association.
There are currently over 800 Canadians waiting for a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. It is their only hope for survival and you could be the match they need.
Healthy adults between 17-50 can join. Bring your health card! It takes only 10 minutes to register.
This event is open to the general public, employees and guests of the Casino.
- For more information on joining the registry, visit www.onematch.ca.
- For more information on "Dancing With the Local Stars", visit www.bwta.ca.
Tuesday, March 15th 2011
Local Residents "Get Swabbed" for Bone Marrow Research
By Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo
Photo courtesy The Amherstburg Echo
Approximately 75 people swabbed at event presented in River Canard
RIVER CANARD — The Knights of Columbus Council 5642 offered residents a chance to get swabbed and get a meal in the same visit.
The Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association (KBBMA) held a "Get Swabbed! Event and Pasta Fundraiser" last Saturday at the K of C Hall in River Canard. Volunteers helped the public swab their cheeks in order to get enrolled in the global bone marrow registry. Chris Dumouchelle, wife of Council 5642 Grand Knight Clarence Dumouchelle, said events like Saturday play an vital role.
"It's very important. I'm actually waiting for a donation. I'm on the list for a stem cell transplant," said Dumouchelle, an Amherstburg resident who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2004.
Dumouchelle added that the couple spread the word as much as they could through the K of C, the church and the community. She said that bone marrow donations have advanced to where it is more like a donation of blood.
"We just wanted to get the awareness out there," she said.
"We want to find donors," added Clarence. "If we don't find one for Chris, we can find one for someone else."
Bryan Bedard, president of the KBBMA, said the seven-hour event was geared towards getting people registered on the bone marrow registry. He said people in good health ranging in age from 17-50 are ideal candidates to get swabbed.
The organization is named for Bedard's daughter, who was unable to find a match. He said people can even swab themselves by applying online at www.onematch.ca.
"You never know when a match is going to save someone's life," said Bedard.
There are roughly 800 Canadians seeking a bone marrow transplant, including three in Windsor-Essex County. Bedard said ethnic diversity is important as matches are generally found between people of different ethnic groups.
"It's primarily Caucasian," he said of the registry.
The event also featured Canadian Blood Services in an effort to promote blood donations as well. Blood transfusions are important during a transplant surgery.
Funds raised during Saturday's event will go to the KBBMA's ongoing efforts to fund public awareness as well as provide support for patients who lose income due to ongoing medical needs, even after surgery.
In all, approximately 75 people were swabbed. The K of C Council 5642 donated $1,915 including proceeds from the pasta dinner as well as a $1,000 donation from the council itself.
Canada’s First National Cord Blank Bank is Funded
Ottawa - March 14, 2011 - Provincial and territorial ministries of health (except Québec) announced today a combined investment of $48 million over the next eight years, including $12.5 million in fundraising, to create a national public umbilical cord blood bank that will provide Canadian patients with greater access to cord blood units. This is a significant investment in a much needed national healthcare resource.
"We have long recognized the need for our own publicly-funded umbilical cord blood bank," says Nova Scotia Minister of Health and Wellness Maureen MacDonald, on behalf of the provinces and territories. "This represents a substantial public investment today in life-saving treatments that will benefit Canadian patients and the country's healthcare system for the long term."
A national public solution is especially important for Canadian patients because of the country's ethnically diverse population. About 70 per cent of patients who require a stem cell transplant must look outside of their families for a match and have the best chance of finding it within their own ethnic group. A national, public umbilical cord blood bank will improve the chance of finding high-quality cord blood for Canadian patients.
The cord blood bank will be developed and managed by Canadian Blood Services, on behalf of the provinces and territories except Québec, which runs its own cord blood banking program through Héma-Québec. Canadian Blood Services was chosen to manage this project because of in-house expertise developed by its OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network and the organization's existing national presence and success as a trusted healthcare partner.
"Currently, more than 800 Canadian patients are in need of a blood stem cell transplant to help them combat life threatening diseases such as aplastic anaemia, leukemia, and other blood related and immune disorders," says Dr. Graham Sher, CEO Canadian Blood Services. "Umbilical cord blood is a high-quality source of stem cells and a national bank will create a long-term supply that will help reduce Canada's dependency on internationally sourced units."
This comprehensive national model will be implemented over eight years in order to achieve a target inventory of 20,000 cord blood units and will include two accredited cord blood stem cell labs and a collections network across Canada (except Québec).
This approval also includes a significant public fundraising campaign to be implemented by Canadian Blood Services over the next three years to raise $12.5 million of the investment. This campaign will begin immediately and will build on national support for a public cord blood bank.
Phase 1 of this project will take place in Ottawa over the next two years. It will develop and implement procedures required to achieve a national public umbilical cord blood bank. In addition, a cord blood stem cell laboratory will be established at Canadian Blood Services' facilities in Ottawa.
Parents in many Canadian communities will then have the opportunity to donate their children's umbilical cords anonymously to a public umbilical cord blood bank, making their donations available for any patient in need.
Phase 2 will see the project expand nationally to have collections of cord blood in Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton hospitals along with a second lab in Edmonton by 2016.
Cord blood has the advantage of producing less graft-versus-host disease in patients and more possible matching and improving the chances of finding matches for patients from ethnic minorities, patients who need a transplant immediately, or those patients with rare or unique HLA typing who cannot find a perfect match.
More press:
Monday, March 14th 2011
A Match Found for Calgary Boy
This is the type of news that the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association is excited to share. A perfect match as been found for 7 year-old Noel Young. The donor is a 21 year-old man from the US. Finding a perfect match is the ultimate goal for those 849 Canadian patients that are still looking. Please join the registry and help others who are searching.
Click here to read the full article in the Calgary Herald.
Monday, March 7th 2011
Calgary Boy, 7 Looking for a Bone Marrow Donor
Noel Robillard, 7 has a rare immune disorder and needs a bone marrow transplant. He has chronic granulomatous disease that attacks his gastrointestinal tract. He has already had his colon removed and is now in need of a bone marrow transplant.
To read more about Noel at www.cbc.ca, click here.
Friday, February 18th 2011
Get Swabbed! and Pasta Fundraiser
Saturday, March 12 - 1 PM to 8 PM
Click here or image for larger version.
Friday, January 28th 2011
Grandma Walks Cross-Country Promoting Bone Marrow Donation Awareness
Jeana Moore, 58 of Washington has spent the last 15 months walking cross-country from Seattle to New York to raise awareness for bone marrow donations. Her 3-year old granddaughter’s life was saved from a bone marrow transplant. She asks that you learn about joining a registry and not wait until something happens to a loved one.
To learn about becoming part of a registry click one of the links below:
Click here to read her story in the nydailynews.
Thursday, January 20th 2011
Get Swabbed! St. Clair College
Students, Staff and members of the public are welcome to register with the One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Network. The event is hosted by the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association and the St Clair College Student Representative Council. Canadian Blood Services will be available to help you determine "What's Your Blood Type".
Date: Monday, January 24th
Location: St. Clair College (North end of cafeteria in the Multi-Purpose Room)
Hours: 9am - 3pm
Eligibility: Healthy Adults between 17-50 with a Canadian Health Card
Monday, January 10th 2011
A Brother’s Tale of Bone-Marrow Donation
Read Peter Gorrie’s story of his stem cell donation experience that saved his brother’s life.
"The call from Princess Margaret Hospital came on a morning in late January last year. I was told I was a match for a bone-marrow transplant for my older brother, Jim, and asked if I was willing. This was neither a decision nor an obligation. I wanted Jim to get well and a transplant offered the only hope."
Click below to read the full article.
Monday, November 8th 2010
KBBMA Signs Agreement with OneMatch
The Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association is proud to announce the signing of an agreement with Canadian Blood Services OneMatch Stem Cell & Marrow Network to become their official partner in Windsor and Essex County. The agreement was signed in Toronto at Queen’s Park on Thursday, November 4th 2010. “We are honoured to sign the agreement with OneMatch and become a trusted partner in the Windsor-Essex region where we strive to reach potential donors from diverse ethnic groups,” says Bryan Bedard, President of the association.
Queen's Park to Honour Windsor Girl's LegacyKatelyn's Legacy Honoured
November is Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Awareness Month in the Province of Ontario
A three-year-old local girl left a legacy that could soon be felt across Ontario.
Yesterday, Essex MPP Bruce Crozier tabled his Private Member’s Bill, “An Act to Make the Month of November Bone Marrow Awareness Month” at Queen's Park, honouring Katelyn Bedard.
Bryan and Joanne Bedard – Katie’s parents and founders of the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association – made the trip to Toronto with half a dozen volunteers to hear the second reading of Bill 80, also know as the "Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Awareness Month Act".
Their hope is that the declaration will encourage others to join the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network.
In conjunction with the reading, OneMatch will be on hand to sign an agreement with the association making them official partners.
Throughout the day, members of the legislature, staff, and visitors had the opportunity to join the Marrow Network.
"This day is significant for our association on multiple fronts,” Bryan explained. “We are honoured to sign the agreement with OneMatch and become a trusted partner in the Windsor-Essex region where we strive to readh potential donors from diverse ethnic groups. The reading of bill 80 is an important show of support from our MPPs and brings added legitimacy to our cause."
The 'Get Swabbed!' challenge takes place on Wednesday, November 10 at the University of Windsor's CAW Student Centre from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This first-ever national challenge involves 15 universities across Canada.
Organizers hope students, staff and members of the public between the ages of 17-50 with a Canadian health card will register.
KBBMA was founded in July 2005 by the Bedards after Katie was unable to find a bone marrow donor and lost her battle with leukemia.
Additional articles about the awareness bill:
- Windsor Star
- Toronto Star
- Bruce Crozier - Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Awareness Month Act Becomes Law
- French CBC Radio Interview
Friday, November 5th 2010
Get Swabbed! Challenge coming to U of Windsor
15 universities across Canada will compete for the winning title in the 1st National "Get Swabbed! Challenge". The challenge will invite as many students, professors, university staff, and community members as possible to register for the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network during swabbing events held on each university campus.
The challenge began when McMaster University student Dustin Shulman and his fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi challenged their fellow students to join the registry in November 2009. The first- ever 'Get Swabbed!' event garnered 754 new registrants on the Network.
Bryan Bedard, president of the local Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association (KBBMA) stated, "Losing our daughter Katie because she couldn’t find a match was heartbreaking. Our hope is that everyone who needs a match will find one."
Schools from several provinces will participate, including among others McMaster University, Carleton University, Queens University, Algoma University, University of Alberta, and Memorial University.
In Windsor, the "Get Swabbed! University Challenge" takes place on November 10th at the University's CAW Student Centre from 9am until 6pm. Volunteers from the association will be on hand in Windsor to assist those wishing to join the Network. They hope to register students, staff and members of the public between the ages of 17 and 50. Potential donors must have a Canadian health card. Individuals from all ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to join as there is a pressing need for minority donors. 798 Canadians are currently searching for a match, and in Ontario, there are 350 patients waiting for a match.
Queen's Park to Honour Windsor Girl's Legacy
A three-year-old Windsor girl left a legacy that could soon be felt across the province. On Thursday, November 4th, Essex MPP Bruce Crozier will table his private member's bill, "An Act to Make the Month of November Bone Marrow Awareness Month" in the Ontario Legislature honouring Katelyn Bedard.
Bryan and Joanne Bedard, Katie's parents and founders of the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association (KBBMA) will make the trip to Toronto with half a dozen volunteers to hear the 2nd reading of bill 80, also known as the "Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Awareness Month Act". Their hope is that the declaration will encourage others to join the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network. In conjunction with the reading, OneMatch will be on hand to sign an agreement with the association making them official partners. Throughout the day, members of the Legislature, staff and visitors will have the opportunity to join the Network.
Bryan Bedard, president of the association stated, "This day is significant for our association on multiple fronts. We are honoured to sign the agreement with OneMatch and become a trusted partner in the Windsor-Essex region where we strive to reach potential donors from diverse ethnic groups. Reading of Act bill 80 is an important show of support from our MPPs and brings added legitimacy to our cause."
A second event, the "Get Swabbed! University Challenge" takes place on November 10th at the University of Windsor’s CAW Student Centre from 9am until 6pm. The 1st ever National Challenge involves 15 universities across Canada. Volunteers from KBBMA will be on hand in Windsor to assist those wishing to join the Network. The organizers hope students, staff and members of the public between the ages of 17-50 with a Canadian health card will register. They hope to attract members of Windsor's diverse ethnic community as there is a pressing need for minority donors.
Monday, October 18th 2010
5th Annual Bowling for Bone Marrow a "Strike"
The 5th Annual Bowling for Bone Marrow on August 28, 2010 proved to be the best one so far, eclipsing the amount raised in previous years by bringing in $25,000 in support of stem cell and bone marrow transplant patients. More than 145 bowlers were on hand for an afternoon of laughs, strikes, gutter balls and more. Thank you to each and every person that collected pledges and took time on a beautiful summer afternoon to participate. Our sincere thanks to the many sponsors that made the
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Premier Sponsors
- Avatar Software Creations Inc.
- National Bank Financial Group
- Laura White – State Farm
- Scotiabank - Amy Croft Drive
- Joan Gray
- CAW Local 1973
Lane Sponsors
- Windsor East Kiwanis
- Diane Santing – Edward Jones
- Ann Pignal – State Farm
- Anthony Leardi
- Nantais Source for Sports
- Windsor Pro Clean Services
- Desjardins Credit Union
- Ground Effects Ltd.
- Briadco Tool & Mold Inc.
- Marilyn A. Laframboise
- Sherdil Precision Inc.
- Gib & Arlene Williams
- L&H Diversified Manufacturing Inc.
- Medel Brothers Quality Meats & Deli
- In Memory of Paul Senay
- Alliance Windsor Insurance Brokers
- Cardinal Carter Catholic Secondary School
- Brad Bondy – Remax Preferred Realty
- Walmart 1072 Amherstburg
- Ravine Cottages
- Jeremie Bornais – K of C Insurance
- Rob Deneau – Bob Pedler Real Estate
- Knights of Columbus #2844 – McGregor
- Future Stars Sports Photography
- In Loving Memory Shelby Gagne
- Windsor Family Credit Union
- Lacasse Printing
- Ted & Cindy Williams
- Ivanhoe Cambridge
Prize Sponsors
- The Hungry Wolf Restaurant
- The Keg – Devonshire Mall
- Costco
- Sutton Creek Golf & Country Club
- Arcata Pizzeria – Dougall Road
- McGregor Home Hardware
- Jason Barron – K of C Insurance
- Dollars & Cents Investments
- Rexall Pharma Plus Stores #1909
- St. Clair College Athletic Dpt.
- B2 Hair Studios
- Andrea Sulyok – National Bank
- Debbie Simone – Avon
- Annette Martin
- Angela Williams
- Edythe Williams
- Miriam Williams
- Gary and Gloria Gribble
- Jake and Angela DeBoer
- Beth Churchmack
- Paul Hasilo – Axxa
- Diane Smith
- Cathy Bondy
- Michelle Malo
- Florence Senay
- M&M Meat Shops – A’Burg
Thank You to our Golfers
The John Fox Memorial was held on Saturday, May 29, 2010 at Tilbury Golf Club. We were blessed with picture perfect golf weather and a course in spectacular condition. The 60+ golfers on hand enjoyed an afternoon of great shots, laughter and delicious food, resulting in over $4,000 raised in support of KBBMA. Our heartfelt thanks to all of the golfers and generous sponsors making this event a wonderful success again this year. Special thanks to Ken Roughton and Dennis Kelly and the rest of the organizing committee for selecting KBBMA as a benefactor of this special event in memory of John Fox.
The 7th Annual 2010 Day to Remember Charity Golf Tournament took place on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at Wardsville Golf and Country Club. This special afternoon is a wonderful tribute to the hundreds of children treated for cancer in Southwestern Ontario each year. We are humbled to be a recipient of proceeds from this tournament along with Camp Trillium. Together, golfers and sponsors rose over $6,000 in support of KBBMA. Our sincere thanks to Mike and Sandra Rombouts and the entire Day to Remember committee for choosing our association as a benefactor of this event.
Wednesday, October 13th 2010
Family of a Toronto Woman Needs Help to Finance Treatment
A 27 year old Toronto woman, Alexis Wronzberg was originally diagnosed with A.L.L about 5 years ago. Her leukemia returned last year. Even after receiving a bone marrow transplant in February the leukemia has once again returned. Her only hope is an experimental surgery, a trial that can only be performed in Israel. The family is trying to raise $300,000.00 US to give Alexis her last hope.
Please read the full article in the National Post.
Monday, October 4th 2010
Daily News Reporter Talks About Donating Stem Cells
Anthony Connors, a reporter for the Daily News joined the Bone Marrow Registry after being inspired from a story of six year-old girl, Jasmina Anema who died from a severe form of Leukemia. In June, he found out that he was a possible match.
If you are curious to know what it is like to donate stem cells please read the full article in the New York Daily News.
Wednesday, September 29th 2010
B.C Man Looking For a Bone Marrow Donor
Richard Clark, 39 of Abbotsford B.C has been diagnosed with leukemia for the second time. He was initially diagnosed in June 2009 and received chemotherapy for six months. With only a 30 percent change that the cancer would return, the prognosis was good. Now he will undergo aggressive chemotherapy to keep him in remission until a bone marrow donor is found. Without the transplant, the leukemia will return. His family is asking that anyone between the age of 17 and 50 to consider joining the One Match Stem Cell Marrow Network.
Click here to read the full article on the Cape Breton Post.
Thursday, September 2nd 2010
Regina's Mandi Schwartz Receives Stem Cell Transplant from Cord Blood
The 22-year old from Regina, who played hockey for Yale University was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in December 2008. Her family started a campaign "Become Mandi's Hero", to find bone marrow and cord blood donors.
On Wednesday Mandi received a stem-cell transplant from two umbilical-cord donors. Now Mandi and her family wait and hope that transplant will work.
Click here to read the full article on www.sportsnet.ca
Thursday, September 2nd 2010
Undeniable Bond
Chelsea was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia when she was 8 years old. Unfortunately the treatments could not keep her in remission. It is a miracle that a match was found for Chelsea quickly. When she was 10 years old she received a bone marrow transplant that saved her life. After being in remission for 16 years, she finally had the chance to meet her donor.
Click here to read more at mississauga.com.
Wednesday, August 25th 2010
Save A Latin Life holds Awareness and Registration Event
There is an urgent need for bone marrow registrants among Canada's Hispanic community. While bone marrow patients are more likely to find a donor within their own ethnic group, 82% of people on the bone marrow registry are Caucasian. Only 18% represent all other ethnicities, which is why Save a Latin Life recently held a stem cell awareness and registration event focusing on the Latin American community. The event, held in honour of Nidia Yoana Davis, a Mississauga Convention Cente employee who is battling leukemia, offered food and live entertainment, while helping to dispel myths about the registration and donation processes.
Click here to read more at mississauga.com.
Tuesday, August 17th 2010
Hoping For Good News
Last month we reported that 20-year old David Smyth from Hamilton, Ontario was searching for a bone marrow donor. Last week, his doctors received three samples from an international registry. They are hoping that one of the samples, which is from Germany is a match.
Click here to read the full article in The Star.
Friday, July 30th 2010
Trent University Student Searching for a Match
Today David Smyth is turning 20 and hoping for the best birthday present, a bone marrow donor. He has leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. At six months old, David was diagnosed with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, which causes bone marrow to dysfunction which has lead to leukemia. The leukemia is on David’s spine and causing him to lose feeling from the waist down.
Please help in finding David a match by joining the One Match Stem Cell Registry (www.blood.ca) and spreading awareness to your family and friend.
To read the full article in The Peterborough Examiner, click here
Wednesday, July 28th 2010
Plead For Blood Donations
As summer is in full swing Windsor’s Canadian Blood Services has a potential shortage of blood donations. They are already short 10,000 appointments of filling the 137,000 units of blood needed between now and September 11th. Please call 1-888-236-6283 to donate. Click here to read the full article in the Windsor Star.
Tuesday, July 20th 2010
Swab Event at Hispanic Fiesta
Save a Latin Life, a community group based in Toronto will be hosting a swab event at Toronto's annual Hispanic Fiesta the weekend of September 4-5. Tissue type is inherited and ethnicity plays an important role in matching stem cell donors. There is a pressing need for hispanic donors and Save a Latin Life is working hard to spread the word within the community.
Hispanic Fiesta
Mel Lastman Square
5100 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON
Saturday, September 4, 2010 and Sunday, September 5, 2010
Click HERE to download a flyer for this event and information in Spanish about bone marrow and stem cell donation.
Thursday, May 20th 2010
In The Fight For Her Life
Mandi Schwartz has proven herself to be a fighter on and off the ice.
And now she's in what a friend calls "literally in the fight of her life."
With the help of family and friends, the 22-year-old Schwartz is taking on cancer.
In December 2008, Schwartz was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. After five grueling rounds of chemotherapy and a lengthy 130-day hospital stay in Regina, she was declared cancer-free. In January of this year, Schwartz's teammates on the Yale University Bulldogs women's hockey team warmly welcomed her back to school and the rink as she resumed her studies in medicine.
But on April 22, as Yale was hosting its second bone marrow drive, Schwartz was on a plane home to Regina.
She had learned from a routine blood exam a couple of days prior that she had relapsed and the cancer had returned. Currently, Schwartz is in hospital in Regina and has just finished her first round of chemotherapy, said Dr. Ted Collins, immunologist and her doctor at Yale University.
Click here to read more on Mandi in the Leader-Post.
Thursday, May 13th 2010
Manitoba Women Dies Waiting for a Bone Marrow Donor
A Manitoba aboriginal woman battling leukemia has died while waiting on an extremely slim chance of finding a bone-marrow donor to save her life.
Chantelle Chornoby, 21, died over the weekend. She first beat cancer when she was 10, but fought leukemia since 2007.
Canadian Blood Services estimates that only 0.9% of the 249,000 potential donors registered in their database are aboriginal.
Click here to read more in the Winnipeg Free Press.
Tuesday, May 11th 2010
New Bone Marrow Transplant Method to Ease Risk
WASHINGTON - Bone marrow transplants are undergoing a quiet revolution: No longer just for cancer, research is under way to ease the risks so they can target more people with diseases from sickle cell to deadly metabolic disorders.
The old way: High doses of radiation and chemotherapy wipe out a patient's own bone marrow before someone else's is infused to replace it, hopefully before infection strikes.
The new way: Rather than destroying the patient's bone marrow, just tamp it down enough to make space for the donated marrow to squeeze in alongside and a sort of twin immune system takes root. It's what doctors taking a page from mythology call "mixed-cell chimerism" — patient and donor blood and immune cells living together to improve health. Click here to read the full article on msn.com
Monday, Apr 19th 2010
Toddler’s Bone Marrow Transplant Delayed by Ash Cloud
A little girl from the UK is in an extremely vulnerable state as she is waiting for her bone marrow transplant. The donation is coming from Canada . This girl is one of 16 patients waiting for this life-saving procedure. The longer the flight disruption continues, the likely this number will rise. Click here to read more from The Sun.
Wednesday, Mar 31th 2010
Congratulations to OneMatch and the Other Half
A stem cell drive held last Saturday in Toronto and Vancouver attracted thousands. The goal was to register between 1,500 and 2,000. This historic drive had 4,025 people sign up as donors with One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Network. To read more on the success of this event see below.
Friday, Mar 26th 2010
Awareness Is the Issue
How did you hear about the need for bone marrow or stem transplants? How did you learn about the Bone Marrow Registry? Sadly, most find out when a loved one is in need of a transplant. It is organizations like the Canadian Blood Services, Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association, Better World Today Association and Other Half that are working hard to educate and grow our registry.
The best chance of finding a stem-cell donor is within a patient’s own ethnic group. Chinese Canadians only have a five to ten percent chance of finding a donor. This number decreases with children of mixed ethnic backgrounds.
Pass on this information, this website. Post it on your Facebook page or Twitter. The more people on the registry, the greater the diversity, the better chances we have to save someone’s life.
To read about the current promotion of awareness in the Chinese Community read this article posted in the Vancouver sun.
Tuesday, Mar 9th 2010
National Chinese Stem Cell Drive – March 27th
More than 20 Chinese patients in Canada are searching for a stem cell donor. A National Stem Cell Drive is being held on March 27th in Toronto and Vancouver. For more information regarding this drive, click here.
Friday, Mar 5th 2010
Fundraisers to Support Belle River’s Wes Laporte
Local teen is currently receiving treatment in the U.S. for Acute Leukemia. Local supporters are trying to raise funds to help the family with medical expenses around $250,000. How can you help?
- Donate empty wine and beer bottles at EcuMedical – 880 North Service Dr. East, Building 100, Suite 101.
- A pancake breakfast is being held on Sunday March 7th at Mr.Bigg’s in Belle River. Breakfast is served from 8:00am to noon.
- On March 11th, a Wes Laporte Night raffle will be held during the Windsor Spitfire game at WFCU Centre.
- Go to www.onematch.ca to join the registry.
Read the Windsor Star article for more details.
Thursday, Feb 18th 2010
Blood Donors Needed
The need for blood is INCREASING
OVER 50% OF APPOINTMENTS IN FEBRUARY STILL NEED TO BE FILLED
Please encourage your family, friends and co-worker to donate blood.
Windsor Blood Donor Clinic Hours
3909 Grand Marais Road East
| Monday & Thursday | 12pm – 7pm |
| Tuesday & Friday | 8am – 1pm |
| Wednesday | 3pm – 7pm |
| Saturday | 9am – 1pm |
Please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to book your appointment. Can you bring in a group? Call Joan at 519 251-4202 or email to Joan.Hannah@blood.ca
Walk-ins are welcome.
Identification is required – full name and signature or full name and picture. It only takes an hour to make a life-saving difference.
One donation can help improve or save the lives of up to three people.
Tuesday, Jan 19th 2010
Lakeshore Academy of Fine Arts Supports the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association
Lakeshore Academy of Fine Arts Presents - Peter Pan
Purchase Tickets at:
Puce Sports and Leisure 519-727-0470 or online at
http://www.lakeshoreacademy.ca/BOXOFFICE.html
Price: $15.00
Friday – January 22 – 7:00 PM
Saturday – January 23 – 2:00 PM
Saturday – January 23 – 7:00 PM
Sunday – January 24 – 2:00 PM
Help support us and the talented youth at LAFA by attending this special presentation of Peter Pan.
Friday, Jan 15th 2010
Innovative Strategies Improve Outcomes and Reduce Complications Associated With Stem Cell Transplants
Leading experts continue to investigate new approaches to for reducing complications with Stem Cell Transplants. An article found on CancerNewtwork.com provides details on how researchers are addressing complications such as veno-occlusive disease and graft-vs.-host disease.
Click here to read the full article.