Post-secondaries helping Canadian Blood Services recruit stem cell donors

Alberta post-secondaries are taking part in a campaign to recruit stem cell registrants, in partnership with Canadian Blood Services.

Red Deer Polytechnic, along with the U of A, Mount Royal, SAIT, and the U of C are all participating from Feb. 5-16.

“Canadian Blood Services is calling on Alberta students between the ages of 17 to 35 to step up and swab their cheeks to save a life,” Canadian Blood Services says in a release. “Between February 6 and 15, students can register to become a stem cell donor and potentially be a match for one of the nearly 1,000 Canadian patients waiting for a lifesaving stem cell transplant.”

Stem cell transplants can treat over 80 diseases and disorders, and when someone undergoes such a transplant, it is often their last hope for survival. Stem cells from younger donors can also lead to better patient outcomes.