​​Three ways financial gifts helped patients this year​

When you think about a Canadian Blood Services donor, you might picture a compassionate person rolling up a sleeve to give blood or plasma. After all, we need 450 new blood and plasma donors to join us daily this winter to keep our lifeline strong for patients.  

But did you know that you can still be a donor whether you give biologically or not? Financial donors unlock additional impact for patients. 

Whether you are already a financial donor, or are thinking about becoming one, read on to see the impact of financial donations in 2024.

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1. Financial donations helped advance research seeking to improve donor-patient matching  

Thanks to support from financial donors, we continued a proof-of-concept study that harnesses the power of DNA sequencing, also known as genomics. This emerging discipline uses DNA-based testing to paint a detailed picture of a person’s unique genetic makeup and characteristics. Once put into practice, it has the potential to identify donors with rare blood types more quickly and expand our rare blood inventory, speed up evaluation of complex cases for patients needing transfusions and enable even more accurate donor and recipient matching across Canada.  

Led by Dr. Celina Montemayor, medical scientific lead of the Red Cell Genomics proof-of-concept study and world leader in genomics research, the study is developing a clinical genomic test as well as the software required to interpret the test data.  

“This work is particularly promising for patients with sickle cell disease or other conditions that require frequent transfusion support and also for patients with rare or highly complex blood groups, which are found across the very diverse populations in Canada,” says Dr. Montemayor. “Blood typing based on one’s genetic makeup will enable us to support these patients in ways that simply haven’t been possible until now.” 

2. Financial donations supported physicians honing their expertise in transfusion medicine  

Funded through contributions from our financial donors, the Elianna Saidenberg Transfusion Medicine Traineeship Award makes it possible for physicians to access a two-year subspecialty program in transfusion medicine. This year, two hematology residents received the award to continue their training in this area. 

As the only award for this kind of training in Canada, it is vital for helping to build a community of transfusion medicine experts in the country — many of whom have become internationally-renowned transfusion specialists.  

“Training physicians to the highest standards in the practice of transfusion medicine is essential to complement the highest standards for collection, manufacturing and distribution of blood products,” says Dr. Graham Sher, CEO of Canadian Blood Services. “Throughout our history, these trained specialists have been key to ensuring the best blood system possible for every person in Canada.”  

3. Financial donations accelerated efforts to recruit more biological donors 

Evey day, our dedicated community at Canada’s Lifeline help to recruit more new donors who give blood and plasma. Take young leaders in post secondary schools and on hockey teams across Canada, for example. They are instrumental in helping to recruit the next generation of donors, particularly during periods when blood and plasma appointments tend to decline and young people have more flexibility to help. Financial donors provided incentive for these young people in the form of bursaries for those with the most successful and dedicated recruitment efforts.  

By empowering youth recruiters, like player ambassadors through the Hockey Gives Blood program, they have helped recruit more than 200 new donors from the hockey community this year alone. But the support of financial donors not only incentivizes efforts of youth recruiters, it can also unlock greater opportunities by supporting their education and development.  

“My mom needed blood transfusions in the past, and her experience inspired me to participate ... I’m studying elementary education and chemistry at university,” says 2024 bursary recipient, Liliana Chow. “The scholarship helps me to keep studying and reaching children in my community. It’s been a huge help for me.”  

BONUS: Financial donations also helped engage members from underrepresented communities in Canada’s Lifeline  

Some people with complex blood product needs and who receive regular transfusions require specially matched blood products that often come from donors of similar ethnic background or ancestry. This is why it’s critical that we boost the ethnic diversity within Canada’s blood system.  

Some of our Partners for Life communities are instrumental in meeting this goal — and financial donors are giving their recruitment efforts a boost too. By funding advertising and digital marketing that motivated new donors to join these Partners for Life teams, financial donors also helped contribute to a more ethnically diverse and equitable blood system.  

Financial donors help make the world better and their impact as part of Canada’s Lifeline is no different. As a financial donor you are instrumental in helping us do more to grow our donor base and transform our blood system today and in the future.

Make a financial donation today