In an effort to recruit even more volunteer stem cell donors from varied ethnic communities, Canada's OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network has begun to offer services in languages other than English and French.

Today, more than 600 patients across Canada require a life-saving stem cell transplant for cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, as well as for other immune and genetic disorders. Only 30 per cent of these patients are fortunate enough to find a match within their own family. The other 70 per cent depend on the generosity of unrelated donors.

In addition, the likelihood of finding a match is far greater within one's own ethnic group. Unfortunately, only 17 percent of the 237,000 registered stem cell donors in Canada are non-Caucasian. That's why it's so important for more donors from Canada's many ethnic and cultural communities to join OneMatch.

The week of Nov. 3 to 9 is OneMatch National Stem Cell and Marrow Awareness Week, and Canadian Blood Services is urging more ethnically diverse Canadians to consider registering as potential stem cell donors.

"We've seen a 120 per cent increase in non-Caucasian stem cell donors since our first concerted effort to reach out to ethnic communities last November," said Sue Smith, Executive Director of OneMatch. "While we're pleased with the progress, we recognize there is much more work to do."

Introducing services in other languages is expected to help. As a first step, written materials from recruitment to registration forms have been translated into traditional and simplified Chinese, thanks to a partnership with the Elizabeth Lue Bone Marrow Foundation of Toronto. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding has been inked with Association de l'industrie de la langue/Language Industry Association (AILIA) to provide guidelines and standards for the use of accredited interpreters to assist donors who speak neither English nor French with the registration and health assessment process.

"The language industry and Canadian Blood Services' OneMatch share a very strong bond. They are both true horizontal services that touch all Canadians and contribute to the well-being of our nation. AILIA is proud to be supporting the well-being of Canadians through the essential work done by OneMatch, as they lead the world by example," said Gonzalo Peralta, President of AILIA. "In turn, OneMatch demonstrates true vision as they leverage Canada's language expertise to reach our diverse communities."

Chinese languages are the third-largest mother tongue spoken in Canada, and Chinese registrants are an under-represented group on the Network. Additional languages will gradually be introduced based on the greatest needs.

The language initiative is just one in a series of enhancements OneMatch has introduced in the past few years to make becoming a donor more convenient. Two years ago it introduced online stem cell donor registration, which increased OneMatch's reach to more people and sped up the registration process. Earlier this year, do-it-yourself DNA cheek swab kits mailed directly to potential donors made it possible to complete every step of the registration from the comforts of home - eliminating the inconvenience of having to travel to a lab for a blood test.

About Canadian Blood Services

Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the supply of blood and blood products in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec. Canadian Blood Services also oversees the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, and provides national leadership for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Canadian Blood Services operates 40 permanent collection sites and more than 19,000 donor clinics annually. The provincial and territorial Ministries of Health provide operational funding to Canadian Blood Services. The federal government, through Health Canada, is responsible for regulating the blood system.

Canadian Blood Services