One Match

This past weekend I volunteered at a swabbing event for One Match. The patient we were trying to find a match for is Cathy who has Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I don't know who she is (she lives across the country from me) but I read about her battle with leukemia on her website. I wasn't familiar with the One Match before this event, but I definitely learned a lot.

Ethnicity plays a huge role in trying to find a match for someone, which is why various Greek communities throughout Canada were holding these events - Cathy has a better chance of finding a match with a Greek person then a non Greek. Ideal candidates for donors are healthy males between the age of 17-39 (tell your husbands, boyfriends, sons and friends to get registered!). It really takes only about five minutes to register and get swabbed and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. To order a swabbing kit, go here and click on join.

I can't give blood (I'm anemic), and I don't volunteer on a regular basis (I'm an asshole), but this felt pretty good for my soul. The chances of being a match for someone are unfortunately pretty slim, but the hope you can give someone just by registering is huge.