Donors
Like Us
Save Lives
"Your match could be someone like you"
Stem cell compatibility is inherited, so a patient's likeliest donor is usually someone who shares their ancestry. Communities that are thin on the national stem cell registry wait longer for a match — sometimes too long. Donors Like Us runs registry drives, workshops and plain-language outreach across Greater Vancouver to close that gap, one swab at a time. Our goal for 2026: 250 new registry donors.
About the Campaign
Why Representation in the Registry Matters
Donors Like Us is a Greater Vancouver health equity campaign working to increase donor representation on the national stem cell registry — through community drives, honest education, and the simple act of asking people who have never been asked.
Tissue-type matching follows inherited markers, which means a registry that does not reflect a community cannot reliably serve its patients. We work with clinics, student unions, cultural societies and neighbourhood pharmacies so that the ask happens where people already are — and so the answer is informed rather than rushed.
Our Foundation
Four Pillars
Increasing Donor Representation
Encouraging more donors from underrepresented communities to register helps improve access to culturally and genetically matched stem cell donors for patients in need.
Community-Led Awareness & Education
The campaign focuses on sharing accessible information about stem cell donation through community voices, storytelling, and community engagement.
Honouring Reciprocity & Collective Care
A registry is insurance a community buys for itself. Most donors are never called; the ones who are may be the only compatible match in the country for a stranger who shares their heritage.
Building Trust Through Collaboration
The campaign works alongside community organizations, students, and healthcare partners to promote culturally safe and respectful outreach.
Meet the Voices
Our Ambassadors
Eight ambassadors across Greater Vancouver doing the asking.
Follow Along
On Instagram
Drive results, ambassador spotlights, and the plain-language explainers people keep asking us to repost.
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Events
In the News
Media Coverage
Featured by The Riverview Daily, Harbourline Community Radio and other outlets across the Lower Mainland.
Take Action
You Could
Save a Life
Registering takes about fifteen minutes and costs nothing: a questionnaire, a kit in the mail, a cheek swab. If your community is underrepresented on the registry, you may be the only compatible match in the country for a patient who shares your ancestry.