MONTRÉAL, Sept. 15, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - On Saturday, September 16, the Montréal Olympic Park Tower will be lit up in red and blue to mark World Marrow Donor Day. This symbolic gesture is intended to highlight the importance of stem cell donation in the lives of thousands of patients worldwide.
This day is celebrated in more than 40 countries and dedicated to those who have already donated stem cells as well as the 30 million potential donors listed in international registries.
Hundreds of activities will be organized around the world, and Héma-Québec will be participating for the third consecutive year. To mark the day, the tallest inclined tower in the world, which can be seen from as far away as 80 kilometres from Montréal, will be lit up along with the Empire State Building in New York, which will take on the colours of the Gift of life USA organization.
Héma-Québec kindly thanks the Régie des installations olympiques for this visibility given to the cause of the gift of life.
Héma-Québec's contribution to international registries
Héma-Québec manages the Stem Cell Donor Registry for Quebec, including the first and largest publicly owned cord blood bank in Canada. With some 60,000 registered donors and more than 10,000 cord blood units in reserve, the organization ranked 20th in the world in 2016 for its distributed cord blood units. The Héma-Québec Registry is part of the Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide (BMDW) global network of more than 30 million potential donors.
Joining the Stem Cell Donor Registry
Young men in particular are being called on to join the Stem Cell Donor Registry. Studies show that the age and gender of the donor have a significant impact on the success of a stem cell transplant. People aged 18 to 35 who are in good health and willing to give to anyone in need can obtain information and register on the Héma-Québec website at www.hema-quebec.qc.ca, under the section Stem Cells > Stem Cell Donors.
Giving to the Public Cord Blood Bank
Recruitment efforts are being made in hospitals where a large proportion of non-Caucasian mothers give birth. Women aged 18 years and older who are healthy and plan to give birth in one of the partner hospitals can obtain information and register with the Public Cord Blood Bank on Héma-Québec's website at www.hema-quebec.qc.ca, under the section Stem Cells > Cord Blood Donors.
About Héma-Québec
Héma-Québec's mission is to efficiently meet the needs of the Québec population for quality blood and other biological products of human origin.
Give stem cells. Give life.
#WMDD2017 #thankyoudonor
SOURCE Héma-Québec
Héma-Québec, Media line, 514 832-0871, www.hema-quebec.qc.ca
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