Hope and Inspiration Gala to Raise Awareness for Black Stem Cell Donors

Toronto, ON – The Hope and Inspiration Gala, hosted by Donor Drive 4 Dorothy (DD4D), is set to take place on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at the Panemonte Conference Centre in Etobicoke. This special evening aims to raise awareness and funds to expand the Black donor pool in Canada’s stem cell registry, a critical initiative addressing the dire need for diversity in life-saving stem cell transplants.

The gala will begin at 6 p.m. and promises an elegant night of entertainment, gourmet dining, and inspiring stories. Among the highlights are performances by cabaret singer Khay, an original cast member of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical RAGTIME, and renowned saxophonist Joseph Callender, who has shared the stage with stars like John Legend and Lalah Hathaway.

The mission of DD4D has taken on renewed urgency in 2024. Black Canadians make up just 1.87% of the national stem cell registry, with only 8,554 Black individuals among the 457,000 registered potential donors. This underrepresentation leaves 25 Black patients in Canada currently searching for a stem cell match.

Dorothy Vernon-Brown, co-founder of DD4D and a stem cell transplant survivor, emphasized the importance of diversity in the donor pool. “I am living proof of what a successful stem cell transplant can do,” she shared. “Now my mission is to give more Black Canadians the chance at life by increasing the diversity of the donor registry. It ought to reflect Canada’s multicultural society.”

Statistics reveal a stark imbalance in the registry, where 64.4% of donors are Caucasian. This creates significant challenges for patients from Black, Indigenous, and South Asian communities to find compatible matches.

The Hope and Inspiration Gala not only seeks to raise funds but also to unite the community in addressing this pressing issue. Funds raised will go toward expanding outreach and educational initiatives to encourage more Black Canadians to register as stem cell donors.

For tickets or to learn more about the cause, visit the event’s official page: Hope and Inspiration Gala.

About Donor Drive 4 Dorothy (DD4D)

DD4D is a Toronto-based organization committed to increasing diversity in Canada’s stem cell donor registry. Co-founded by Dorothy Vernon-Brown, a stem cell survivor, the organization raises awareness and funds to ensure that every Canadian patient has an equal chance of finding a life-saving match.

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