Students at DVSS are being given a chance to show the have the power to give life.
Canadian Blood Services is holding a What’s Your Type and Get Swabbed event on Monday, May 30. This is a chance for students to find out their blood type to save a life and register for the one Match Registry to help chance of leukemia patients.
Principal Curtis LaPierre explained while this year Mr. Rasmussen’s Biology 20 class sparked the interest in bringing the Red Cross to the school, DVSS has a proud history of supporting the Red Cross. In particular, the One Match Program.
He explains, about six years ago the school rallied around teacher Shannon Dart, who owes her life to stem cell treatments, to support the One Match program. The result was astounding.
“We had 411 Drumheller residents sign up,” said LaPierre.
He explains that the man who then ran the program, spent the entire day in Downtown Edmonton and only signed up five registrations.
He came here and spent three hours and sign up 411. We were told we were the per capita capital of North America for stem cell registrations,” said LaPierre.
Dart has learned first hand on how stem cell treatment can change a life.
Dart has been battling cancer since 2004 and received a stem cell transplant in 2007.
“It saves your life, it put me into remission for two and half years,” she said.
Currently she is receiving daily chemotherapy, however if it begins to not be as effective, she may need another transplant. However, developments are being made.
“I just learned there are three new plasma therapies available now that I can try out. A year and half ago when I was really ill, these weren’t available… so hopefully I won’t need one for a while.”
The research has become more precise.
“This year they want to focus on ages 17- 35 years of age, that is where they get the greatest success,” said LaPierre.
Dart explains, “Much has changed since 2010, it was 17-50, but now it is 17-34. They will take anybody in that age group, but they are really looking for males and culturally diverse backgrounds,” said Dart.
“I am happy they are coming here again to do this, and I am so excited they are promoting it in high schools,” said Dart, adding the next day they are heading to a high school in Olds to continue the program.
The event is slated for Monday, May 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at DVSS. Residents are welcome to come and register. For more information go to www.blood.ca
