Blood agency seeks aboriginal stem cell donors

Canadian Blood Services is pleased that members of Manitoba's aboriginal community turned out for an event to boost donations from stem cell donors for patients with leukemia and other life-threatening illnesses.

The event on Wednesday night was a mix of entertainment by aboriginal musicians and presentations by the agency on blood and stem cell programs.

Stem cells are immature cells that have the potential to develop into other types of cells, including red and white blood cells.

When patients need a stem cell or bone marrow transplant, 70 per cent of the time they can't find a match within their family. Matches are usually found from donors of the same ethnic background.

But the aboriginal community represents only 0.9 per cent of Canadians who have joined the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, said Sue Smith, executive director of the network.

About 55 people attended, with 50 participating in a demonstration on blood typing and 13 joining OneMatch, spokesman Michael Hyduk said Thursday.

"We are extremely pleased with the results of the evening and believe it will contribute to an increase in awareness about the blood and stem cell programs," Hyduk said in an email.

Many of the agency's most loyal donors are between 45 and 54, and may need blood products in the next decade. Canadian Blood Services is, therefore, looking for younger donors to boost its supplies in the future.