In 1988 RCMP Constable Bruce Denniston inspired Powell River to become an national leader in bone marrow donations. His legacy continues in the Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society (BDBMS), which has its national headquarters in Powell River.
On September 15, 2014 the physical office for BDBMS will close in Powell River, and the society will operate using its website, email and telephone number. Danita Senf has retired from her position in the office, but continues to work part-time and as a volunteer with the Stem Cell Courier program.
Powell River rallied around Denniston and his young family after he was diagnosed with leukemia in November 1987. In the 16 months that Denniston fought leukemia before he died, the BDBMS’s media and fundraising campaign inflated the National Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry (UBMDR) from 1,500 to 4,500 names of potential donors. Canada continues to be a leader in this area, with more unrelated bone marrow transplants per capita today than any other nation.
BDBMS was established to give Denniston, and others who suffered from leukemia, a second chance at life. The society did this by providing financial assistance and increasing public awareness of UBMDR. The society’s supporting role has changed over the years to one that improves the quality of life for those affected by blood-related illnesses and promotes education initiatives about the need for increased ethnic diversity among bone marrow donors.
Over the past 25 years BDBMS has created legacy reminders in the community including Bruce Denniston Playground at Larry Gouthro Park, the Joseph Agius Hospice Suite within Powell River General Hospital and upgrades to the oncology room. The most recent project is co-ordinating stem cell couriers.
Stem cell technology was not developed when Denniston was alive, but today peripheral blood stem cell transfer is used instead of bone marrow donation in many cases. It is less invasive for both the donor and the recipient, but stem cells have a very short life span outside the body. It is necessary to transport them quickly once they have been harvested from the donor.
Canada works with 45 other countries to match donors with recipients of stem cells, and often stem cells need to travel internationally to get to a Canadian patient. BDBMS came up with an imaginative system for ensuring that stem cells can travel quickly across international borders. The society’s relationship with veteran RCMP members supplied them with a network of generous people, with a clear security record, who could travel at a moment’s notice for a good cause. Many of the BDBMS stem cell couriers are retired from the RCMP.
Senf will continue to arrange transportation and accommodation for the team of BC volunteer couriers who are willing to fetch and deliver stem cells harvested for transplant. The couriers are called up and expected to travel within a few days. When they arrive in the country where the harvesting is happening, they let the hospital know that they are ready. Not until then will the stem cells be harvested, so they are as fresh as possible for the journey back to Canada.
BDBMS president Garry Anderson cannot say enough about the work that Senf has done in her years with the society. “Her work is unparalleled, way over and above what the job asks of her.”
To learn more or to donate to the BDBMS readers can visit online, email [email protected], or use the toll-free number 1.877.485.8488.
A chronology, created by Senf, of the media and fundraising campaign started in 1987 as the community rallied around Denniston and his family, is available here.
