Professional hockey players team up to inspire stem cell registration

Hockey Gives Blood, one of our national Partners for Life organizations, enlisted a few of its famous friends to help spread the word about the importance of stem cell registration. Last month, prominent Canadian-born players — including Sidney Crosby — used a social media video to encourage eligible Canadians to join the national stem cell registry.

Donated stem cells can treat more than 80 blood cancers and disorders, including acute myeloid leukemia. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting stem cell transplantation, and for this reason we expect transplant centres in Canada will rely more than ever on Canadian stem cell donors to provide lifesaving matches for patients. We urge healthy Canadians between 17 and 35 years of age to join the Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry online and order their swab kit to be delivered in the mail.