Drumheller’s youth have taken it upon themselves to try and save the lives of others. 

On Monday, May 30, the Canadian Blood Services and One Match organization made their way to the DVSS library.  Students from the school lined up and volunteered for a cheek swab to see if their stem cells matched someone in need. 

Blood typing was also available for anyone wishing to donate blood in the future.

Stem cells are immature cells. The cells  have not developed yet and can become red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets, which help to stop bleeding. 

Blood related diseases such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, inherited immune system and metabolic disorders, can be treated with stem cell transplants.

Students simply participated in a cheek swab, which were sent off to the One Match database. Students will be notified if they are a match to anyone. 

Robin Henwood, a coordinator for the One Match Organization explained to inSide Drumheller the importance of people donating their cells. 

“One match is an international data base of stem cell owners. So, if someone is looking for a match, they can access our data base and find someone who matches theirs.”

One match is recently in need of male, ethnically diverse donations. 

“This is because male stem cells always have a better outcome. It is like any other transplant, like a lung or liver. The body can reject it. There is less chance of that happening with a male. Our data base is 70% Caucasian, and that isn’t really the face of Canada, so we are always looking for more ethnically diverse people to match with.” 

Shannon Dart, a past DVSS high school math teacher and a stem cell related disease survivor, reflects on the importance of this program,“I think it is really important that the Canadian Blood Services and One Match are coming to schools to inform younger people about how they can help and to promote the idea of stem cell research. It warms my heart to have so many young people involved in this program. They are helping to save a lot of lives.” 

One of three charged in an armed robbery of Drumheller’s Macs convenience store in 2013, resolved his charges on Wednesday in provincial court.

Chase Donovan appeared in provincial court in Drumheller via closed circuit television from the Calgary Remand Centre on Wednesday, June 1.  He was in court for sentencing. He pleaded guilty to a number of charges including robbery, driving while unauthorized and a number of breaches. A charge of disguise with intent to commit an offence was withdrawn.

At about 2:12 a.m. on November 6, 2013, police responded to a robbery at the Mac’s Husky in Drumheller.  It was reported that three men approached and asked the clerk to stand aside, as they went behind the counter taking cash, lottery tickets and cigarettes.

 Defense for Donovan said his client is 21 years old, has resided in Drumheller most of his life, and the robbery was fueled by drugs. Since then, he has spent substantial time in custody. He served from December 16, 2013, when he was arrested on these charges, until July 18, 2014, and again from November 2015 to his court date on June 1, 2016. This equates to 23 months when given pretrial credit for time served. While in custody he has completed a drug treatment program and had taken courses while in custody. 

He was sentenced to 20 months for the robbery, and three months for the breaches, as well as fines for the remaining charges. He was given credit for time served and was released.

Co-accused Daylen Kerr pleaded guilty on an earlier date and was sentenced to 18 months. Charges against Cruise Donovan in relation to the robbery are still before the court.