Durham College to host Get Swabbed at Oshawa campus

College partnering with OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network to register stem cell donors for patients in need

Oshawa, Ont. – Durham College is partnering with the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network on Tuesday, February 12 to host Get Swabbed, an event designed to add registrants to Canada’s stem cell registry by swabbing the inside of students’ cheeks and sending a tissue sample to Canadian Blood Services to identify potential stem cell donors.

The Get Swabbed program is focused on increasing the number of optimal donors in the OneMatch Network. While there are more than 330,000 Canadians currently registered with the network, nearly 1,000 patients continue to search for a matching stem cell donor. In addition, 75 per cent of registrants are Caucasian and 25 per cent are from Canada’s many diverse ethnic groups with stem cells from donors who are young (ages 17-35), male and ethnically diverse in the highest demand.

Research shows that younger stem cells from male donors affect patients better post-transplant and patients are most likely to find a suitable match with a donor of the same ethnic background. As a result, Get Swabbed is aimed at increasing the number of young, diverse and male donors to better support patients in need.

“Young donors have the biggest potential to save the life of a patient anywhere in the world,” said Hailu Mulatu, co-ordinator, Donor Management, OneMatch. “We are inspired by all the students who have embraced our mission to help more patients in need. Registering is so easy and the impact is life-changing.”

To register as a potential stem cell donor and to find out more about the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, interested individuals can visit www.onematch.ca and www.facebook.com/onematch.

Who:

  • Durham College students;
  • Durham College Campus Health Centre staff;
  • Hailu Mulatu  co-ordinator, Donor Management, OneMatch; and
  • Representatives from OneMatch.

When:
February 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where:
Durham College Oshawa campus
SW-Wing, Gordon Willey building
2000 Simcoe Street North

Parking:
Enter off Simcoe Street North or Conlin Road and proceed to the Commencement parking lot.

For more information contact:
Allison Rosnak
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2333
allison.rosnak@durhamcollege.ca