To promote the donation of blood products and the Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Registry.

As my geocaching name implies, one of my other passions is the promotion of the donation of blood products and bone marrow. I have been a blood donor since my 18th birthday. I changed from whole blood donations to plasma donations and as of today have 480 donations. I have a rare blood type (AB neg, less than 4% of the planet) and my plasma is in great demand. This is because while only people with AB neg blood can use AB neg blood, anyone can use the plasma from an AB neg plasma donor. I donate plasma every Tuesday afternoon. I plan to donate until I die or my health makes it dangerous for me to donate or other to receive my blood. I am also a member of the unrelated bone marrow registry. I have been on the short list to donate bone marrow, but a donor closer was identified.

In Canada, the donation of blood products is managed by the Canadian Blood Service (www.blood.ca). It is a selfless act where no compensation is offered. Although, donating to the Canadian Blood Service is a charitable act, it is not deductible on our taxes. The only compensations donors are given are milk (in my case chocolate milk) and cookies and the knowledge that with that one donation you have just saved up to 5 lives. I tell everyone the first two compensations are the only reason I donate, but the third reason is why I do it. I have been in a situation where an operation was delayed, because they did not have my blood type on hand in case it was needed. Not a good feeling.

In Canada, less than 3% of eligible donors (healthy and over 18) donate blood products. This is an appalling number. Just 3% are carrying the load for the rest. There are many valid reasons why citizens are not eligible to donate. I will attach the questionnaire and you will see what I mean. Other reasons in my opinion are less valid, like I don’t like needles, it takes too long, the questions are too personal, etc.

Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit, charitable organization whose sole mission is to manage the blood and blood products supply for Canadians.

To this end, Canadian Blood Services:

* Collects approximately 850,000 units of blood annually and processes it into the components and products that are administered to thousands of patients each year.

* Manages the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry (UBMDR) whose mission is to secure, in an expeditious way, donors for Canadian bone marrow transplant patients and for patients abroad.

* Screens every donor and tests each unit of blood or blood product collected for a variety of transmissible diseases.

* Ensures that Canadian transfusion medicine research and development remains at the cutting edge.

Canadian Blood Services is committed to blood safety. In addition to the effective screening and testing processes, this pursuit of safety is reflected in every branch of its organizational structure and in each management and operational decision that is made.

Further information can be obtained at: Canadian Blood Services