Swab at School

Join us for an on-campus swabbing event and join Canada's Lifeline!

On Wednesday, February 5th, come to the A Building Main Foyer from 9:30 AM to 4 PM to get on the Stem Cell Registry if you’re aged 17 to 35 years old.

When a patient undergoes a stem cell transplant, it’s often their last hope for survival and the use of stem cells from younger donors typically leads to better patient outcomes.

Approximately 1,000 people in Canada are waiting for their matching donor to join the stem cell registry. A simple cheek swab is all that's between you and a patient whose life you could save.

Why should I donate stem cells?

• Only 50% of patients in need find a suitable donor.
• Less than 25% of people find a matching stem cell donor within their family.
• Stem cell donations treate over 80 serious and life-threatening illnesses, including sickle cell disease, leukemia, and lymphoma.

Why is ethnic diversity important in stem cell donation?

People are more likely to find a stem cell match in donors of similar ethnic background. Having a stem cell registry as diverse as Canada ensures everyone in need can find a match.

Currently, people who are Black, Indigenous, Asian, Hispanic, or mixed-race collectively make up only about a third of registrants. Therefore, we need donors from as many diverse ethnic and mixed-race backgrounds as possible.