National Volunteer Week - Volunteers: making a vital contribution to Héma-Québec's mission

MONTREAL, April 25, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - National Volunteer Week, which runs until April 27, highlights the importance of the people who make the donation of blood, stem cells and even human tissues possible.

While Héma-Québec's cause is vital, the undeniable support of its valuable community partners is even more so. Before each transfusion of blood products, a person has made a blood donation - possibly as a result of the work of a volunteer or even that of the organizing committee responsible for one of the roughly 3,000 blood drives held each year. Before each stem cell transplant, a person has signed up with the Registre des donneurs de cellules souches, which now includes 39,000 potential donors, or a new mother has contributed to the public umbilical cold blood bank. Each human tissue transplant, finally, is made possible by a donation from one of the people registered with the Registre des consentements au don d'organes et de tissus.

"Volunteering lies at the heart of our activities and, ultimately, all Quebecers benefit from the humanity and generosity of these exceptional individuals throughout the province." They all conjugate the verb 'to give' in their own manner. They must know how much their involvement is appreciated and valued and how far it goes to making a difference for people who are ill or have been injured in accidents by giving them renewed hope and health," said Dr. Jean De Serres, President and CEO of Héma-Québec.

Honouring volunteers
In order to celebrate their extraordinary sense of sharing, donors will be greeted with thank you messages at blood drive sites throughout the week. At the same time, two volunteer recognition ceremonies have been organized by Héma-Québec, one in Montréal and the other in Québec City, to which more than 1,000 volunteers have been invited.

It should be noted that Héma-Québec is constantly looking for new volunteers. To learn more, click on Get involved on Héma-Québec's Web site at www.hema-quebec.qc.ca, or call 514 832-5000, extension 162 for Montréal and western Québec, or 418 780-4362, extension 2245 for Québec City and the eastern part of the province.

About Héma-Québec
Héma-Québec's mission is to efficiently provide adequate quantities of safe, optimal blood components, substitutes, human tissues and cord blood to meet the needs of all Quebecers; to provide and develop expertise along with specialized and innovative services and products in the fields of transfusion medicine and human tissue transplantation.

Give blood. Give life.

SOURCE: Héma-Québec

For further information:

Héma-Québec
Media Line | 514-832-0871
www.hema-quebec.qc.ca