Chinese Stem Cell

2011 Masquerade Fundraising Gala

Last Saturday (Oct. 29, 2011), OtherHalf held a very successful gala, “Black & White at the Granite” to raise funds for OtherHalf’s stem cell initiative which was co-organized by OneMatch. The event also helped bring awareness to the many donors and sponsors about the urgent need for more Chinese to register as potential donors so that more Chinese patients will have the chance to find a suitable stem cell match for transplants. With a larger Chinese donor pool more Chinese patients around the world will be able to have timely transplants.

About 160 guests attended the lavish gala event, which featured Latin, and Brazilian dancers, complimentary elaborate masks decorated by volunteers for each guest, one-of-a-kind jewellery show, and wonderful lucky draw prizes.

Mable Cheng, the gala chair, said in her speech that since OtherHalf began its initiative in 2008, the number of Chinese registered stem cell donors in Canada increased from about 2,000 to now 17,000 (about 700 percent rise) resulting in many matches and patients’ lives being saved. However, currently there are still 33 Chinese Canadian patients desperately searching for a donor for transplants. There are plans to expand the national donor registration drive to Montreal next year.

OtherHalf Chair, Susan Go, indicated that the organization was very honoured to be named “Outstanding National Partner” by Canadian Blood Services and OneMatch in 2010 and was granted charity status by Canada Revenue Agency this year. The organization is encouraged by the overwhelming support from the Chinese community for patients at our donor registration drives.

29-year-old Kristina Lam, a leukemia patient currently searching for a suitable match, was at the gala. She thanked everyone for supporting patients like herself. Though her health is not very stable, she hopes that a donor can be found in time for her to undergo a transplant soon.

Click the images below to enlarge!