The Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association is putting a call out to the public for help.
The association is hoping to find a bone marrow donor for 9-year-old Andrew Farrand — a Lakeshore boy who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia.
Melba Bedard is with the association and says finding a match is a must.
"Andrew has one of the more serious forms of childhood leukemia. For his life to be saved, it's through the transplant. That is why we lost our Katelyn. It was 14-years ago, but things have changed through research, through the registries being built up. Her chances today would have been a lot better," she says.
Bedard says getting registered to the donor database takes no longer than 10 minutes.
"All it takes is you answer a questionnaire about your overall, general health and then you do a cheek swab, put your information into the One Match registry and it'll sit there until you're at least 55 years of age. Over time, hopefully, you may be called to be someone's match," she says.
A stem cell and marrow clinic was held Wednesday night at the Canadian Blood Services office on Grand Marais Rd. E.
If you missed the clinic and would like to get swabbed to be a donor, more information can be found at givemarrow.net.
Bedard wants everyone to remember, a simple swab of your cheek could save someone's life.
"It's a very serious commitment. When you do register, the hope is that over time, if you are called to be someone's donor, that you'll go through with that commitment, It's a simple process. It's very minimal pain and discomfort that you go through in the event that you're able to save someone's life," she says.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up for the Farrand family as well to help with travel expenses during Andrew's treatment.