Black 5K Swab Challenge

On Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 12 noon to 3PM at First Baptist Church, 101 Huron Street, Toronto, we’ll be launching an ambitious campaign to swab 5,000 Black Canadians in order to dramatically increase the number of Black donors in Canada’s national stem cell registry.

There is a desperate need to increase the number of Black donors with only 2% making up the stem donor registry compared to 66.45% that are Caucasians. There are currently 13 Black patients waiting for a match. Stem cell transplantation offers hope of a cure or longer survival in patients suffering from blood related diseases such as: leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and aplastic anemia.

***Camera Opportunity*** Former NBA player and campaign Goodwill Ambassador Denham Brown, head coach of Oakville Basketball Prep will be bringing his players at 12 noon to get the ball rolling and swabbing to save a life. They will be joined by many other young people aged 17-30 who will also get swabbed.

Dr. Mark Minden, medical oncologist and senior scientist at University Health Network, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre will be on site to speak with media along with Dorothy Vernon-Brown.