Chief Blair to demonstrate how easy it is to be swabbed

Toronto Police Service News Release

Media advisory, Monday, February 10, 2014, 10 a.m., Headquarters, 40 College Street, TPS partners with OneMatch in lifesaving swab event, Chief Blair will demonstrate how easy it is to be swabbed

Thursday, February 6, 2014 - 8:00 AM
Corporate Communications:  416-808-7100

The Toronto Police Service is partnering, once again, with OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network to raise awareness of the importance of being a donor and is hosting a swab clinic on Monday, February 10, 2014, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., at TPS headquarters, 40 College Street, where Chief William Blair will demonstrate how easy it is to be swabbed.

This swab clinic was originally organized for Samantha Sirbos, a young girl, who turned seven on January 8, and who is fighting for her life. She needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life.

We are pleased to announce that, during the planning for this OneMatch swab event, Samantha found her match. In Samantha's honour, the swab event will continue to be held to build the OneMatch registry for other potential candidates.

Diagnosed with leukemia at age three, and a cancer survivor two years later, Samantha relapsed last September, when the leukemia returned.

She has been undergoing rigorous chemotherapy treatments over the last four months.

Click here to read about Samantha.

Click on FaceBook Event to share the event.

Also, a public blood donor clinic and swab event will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., at 12 Division, 200 Trethewey Drive.

To learn more about OneMatch or Canadian Blood Services, please visit their websites.

For more information on the swab event, please contact Olga Pazukha at OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network at olga.pazukha@blood.ca or Constable Wendy Drummond at wendy.drummond@torontopolice.on.ca

Constable Wendy Drummond, Corporate Communications