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The Climb4Cord fundraising team of Canadian Blood Services completed its climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa on August 12. The event generated more money than the organization initially expected, which will be used to help construct Canada’s first national donor cord blood bank.
Canada is the only country in the G7 without a national donor cord blood bank. Provincial and territorial governments set aside budget money to construct the donor bank, leaving Canadian Blood Services to raise the remaining $12.5 million necessary to complete the development.
The Climb4Cord team included Canadian Blood Services CEO Graham Sher alongside 25 other volunteers, including a number of medical experts and researchers from across Canada. The team began the climb on August 6, and made it to the top in only six days on the mountain.
By the time the team reached the summit on Monday, over $344,000 was donated to the Climb4Cord fundraising team. The goal of the campaign was to raise approximately $250,000, making the climb an incredible success for Canadian Blood Services.
The funds take Canada one step closer to a cord blood banking donor facility for families across the country. Canadian Blood Services plans to open the donor bank by the end of 2013.