Your Match Matters exists to get more people on stem cell registries.
There are thousands of individuals in Canada who are dying because they need a stem cell donor and their match does not exist in the registry. We want to change that with your help.
There are thousands of individuals in Canada who are dying and need a stem cell donor match so that they can live.
They and their families are desperate for a lifeline that saves them, but the stem cell registry is sorely lacking in both number of participants and diversity.
The Birth of YMM
Improve the odds of someone finding a match.
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Get on the Registry
If you are between the ages of 17 and 35, please get swabbed and on the stem cell registry. You will help to increase someone’s odds of finding a match and beating the odds.
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Spread the Word
Everyone, donor or not, has the power to easily spread the need to grow stem cell registries around the world. Tag @yourmatchmatters and increase awareness.
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Share Your Story
If you have an experience that you would like to share, please reach out. We are here to listen and give you a voice. Not all of the stories are currently being told. Let’s change that.
“Swabbing was super easy. I thought I would have to give blood, take a needle or something. Nope. It was about as painless as it gets and took no time.”
— Josh White
Things You Should Know
21,000
Number of people in Canada who will be diagnosed with a blood cancer.
1,000 - 1,200
Number of Canadians waiting for stem a cell match on any given day.
1/900
Current odds of someone finding a match on the registry today.
Under 5%
Percentage of people who will find a match within their own family.
1%
Percentage of Canadians who are actually on the stem cell registry.
>35%
Percentage of ethnically diverse Canadians represented on the registry.
My name is Peter Clarke and this is why I started Your Match Matters.
Being diagnosed with a rare blood cancer and needing a stem cell match introduced me to the realities of stem cell registries.
I was surprised by how hard it is for many to find a match. and even more surprisingly when I learned just how few people are actually on the registry. I was motivated to do something about this after reading and seeing the stories of families for which their loved one DID NOT have a matched donor frantically hosting swabbing events in the faint hope that a match could be found. I couldn't imagine the panic and helplessness those families felt and wanted to help change the odds.j
I launched Your Match Matters (YMM) with the goal of creating action. Awareness is important, but in addition, I want to get more people swabbed and on the registry. I want to understand where the roadblocks are and work with others to try and remove them. That is what YMM is going to try and do, and I would love your help!
Get swabbed. Get on the registry. Save a life.
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We are just getting started but would love to keep you in the loop as we continue to grow, announce events that you can get swabbed at, and share people’s stories. We promise to not spam you and limit the number of emails we send out.