Legislative Assembly Honours Memory of Chantelle Chornoby

Manitoba News Release
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May 11, 2010

Aboriginal Manitobans Urged to Fulfil ‘Chantelle’s Promise’
By Registering to be Bone Marrow Donors: Robinson

Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson today led members of the legislative assembly in honouring the outstanding contributions of Chantelle Chornoby, a young Manitoban from War Lake First Nation who dedicated much of her life to improving Aboriginal registration rates for bone marrow and stem cell donation until her death on May 9 at the age of 21.Chornoby first beat cancer when she was 10 years old but was diagnosed again in 2007 with a rare form of leukemia that can only be treated and cured through bone marrow transplants. Bone marrow transplants require a complicated set of matched genetic markers, usually from a donor of the same ethnic group.

“Chantelle Chornoby was a true warrior in every sense of the word and her determination to help other people and persevere inspired everyone who had the privilege of meeting her,” said Robinson. “I urge all Manitobans, particularly those of Aboriginal descent, to honour Chantelle’s tremendous legacy by registering to donate with Canadian Blood Services.”

The Canadian Blood Services One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Network has about 220,000 people registered to be potential donors, but less than one per cent are Aboriginal. Recognizing the great need, Chornoby setup a Facebook group called Chantelle’s Promise to raise awareness and recruit Aboriginal people to register as donors.

Chornoby was enrolled in the addictions and community services diploma program at CDI College with the intent of graduating and giving back to her home community of War Lake First Nation. CDI College is holding a mass registration event for One Match in Chantelle’s honour. Those interested in participating can attend CDI College at 280 Main St., Winnipeg, on Thursday, May 13 at either 9 a.m. or 2 p.m., or visit www.blood.ca and follow the links to register for the One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Network online.

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