Today is World Marrow Donor Day, so Canadian Blood Services is raising public awareness about the importance of becoming a stem cell donor.

Director of the CBS Stem Cell Program Kathy Ganz says only 20 per cent of people needing a stem cell donation are able to find a match within their family. The remaining 80 per cent will need to match with an unrelated donor, making the need for an expanded and diverse donor base crucial.

Ganz says over 1000 Canadians are currently waiting to find a compatible match to undergo a stem cell transplant with. She adds that stem cell transplants serve as a treatment for over 80 diseases, including blood cancer and aplastic anemia.

According to Canadian Blood Services, the best chance of finding a match often happens between two members of the same ethnicity. Ganz encourages Black, Indigenous and Asian people between the ages of 17 and 35 to join the registry, as it is currently comprised of 65 per cent white people.

After registering, applicants will be sent a cheek swab in the mail to determine who they will be compatible with. Their results will be added to the online registry, and they will be notified if a match is made. Since 2014, over 1000 Canadians have donated stem cells to both local and international patients.

Those who wish to register can do so by visiting blood.ca, calling 1-888-to-donate, or downloading the give blood app.