Atlético Ottawa proudly announces that Canadian Blood Services will be the club’s community partner for the ‘Save a Life’ Home Opener on Saturday, April 13, 2024 (KO 1PM ET, live on OneSoccer) at TD Place. GET TICKETS! The announcement was made during a press conference held on Wednesday with Atlético Ottawa CEO Fernando López and President and Strategic Partner Jeff Hunt, joined by Ron Vezina, Vice-President of Public Affairs with Canadian Blood Services.

Through this initiative, Atlético Ottawa will support Canadian Blood Services by encouraging supporters attending the ‘Save a Life’ Home Opener to sign up for the Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry. All you need to do is get your cheek swabbed and fill out a form with some basic personal information (which is kept confidential by Canadian Blood Services). The process is simple, taking less than five minutes, and you could help save one of the 1,000+ Canadians searching for a life-saving stem cell match.

Approximately 1,000 people in Canada are waiting for a donor match from the stem cell registry.

• When a patient undergoes a stem cell transplant, it’s often their last hope for survival.
• Matching donors are more likely to be of the same ethnic ancestry as the patient who needs a transplant. Diversity in the stem cell registry is vital.
• Contrary to common beliefs, most stem cell donations do not involve surgery; instead, collecting your stem cells will most likely involve a process similar to donating blood.
• Eligible donors must be between 17-35 years old.

“We are thrilled to partner with Atlético Ottawa at their season home opener,” said Chris van Doorn, Community Development Manager for Canadian Blood Services. “Partnerships like this are a crucial element of Canada’s Lifeline and greatly support our efforts to recruit more stem cell donors. Every new registrant gives patients hope. Eligible Atlético supporters could be the match for a patient in Canada or across the world.”

Volunteer run stations will line the concourse, with eligible Atlético supporters encouraged to take five minutes upon entry to join the stem cell registry. The match is sponsored by Sean Frost Real Estate, who, alongside Atlético Ottawa’s front office staff, made all the difference for patients by donating blood together last week at the Ottawa donor centre at 1575 Carling Avenue. Supporters can also donate plasma at the Orléans donor centre at 110 Place d’Orléans Drive. You can join and track Atlético Ottawa’s ‘Partner’s For Life’ team on the GiveBlood App today; click here for more information.

“We are all very excited to continue Atlético Ottawa’s tradition of giving back to the community in the first home match of the season,” said Jeff Hunt, President and Strategic Partner, Atlético Ottawa. “Canadian Blood Services is a crucial organization that saves thousands of lives each year in this great country. I’m proud to see our front office staff embracing this initiative and we are all looking forward to the city, our community, our supporters stepping up to help their fellow Canadians.”

More information about Stem Cell donations

Stem cell transplants can treat over 80 diseases and disorders. When a patient undergoes a stem cell transplant, it’s often their last hope for survival, and the use of stem cells from donors ages 17-35 typically leads to better patient outcomes. Canada’s national stem registry should be as diverse as our country. Patients who need a stem cell transplant are more likely to find a matching donor among those who share their ethnic ancestry. To learn more about stem cell donation (which can be found through a blood donation) and check if you’re eligible, visit www.blood.ca/stemcells.

More information about Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit charitable organization that operates independently from the government. Created through a memorandum of understanding between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, we opened our doors in 1998. Its funding comes primarily from the provincial and territorial governments, and they are a registered charity that accepts financial donations.

Canadian Blood Services is one part of Canada’s broader network of healthcare systems and is the only national manufacturer of biological products funded by Canada’s provincial and territorial governments. They provide blood, plasma, and transfusion and stem cell registry services for all provincial and territorial governments (excluding Quebec). Their national transplant registry for interprovincial organ sharing and related programs extends to all the provinces and territories. They have a unique relationship with Hema-Québec, the provincial blood system operator that provides products to patients and manages Quebec’s stem cell donor registry. The two organizations work closely to share blood products in times of need, and we collaborate regularly to share information, insights, and data.

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Also, fans can read the Match Day Guide for the very latest info about coming on April 13…