A Windsor baby needs a bone marrow donation to save her life, and supporters are looking to the campus community to help.

Madalayna Ducharme has malignant infantile osteopetrosis, a one-in-200,000 genetic disorder that causes bones to get thicker and more dense. Without a transplant, she could soon lose her vision and hearing, and eventually her life. At five months old, her head has already become too heavy for her to lift.

The Katelyn Bendard Bone Marrow Association has partnered with Canadian Blood Services to swab and register potential donors during its campus blood clinic Monday, February 6. The registration involves filling out a questionnaire and a swab inside your cheek to test your compatibility. Potential donors must be between 17 and 35 years old and bring their health cards to the CAW Student Centre’s Ambassador Auditorium from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday.

The blood donor clinic will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Walk-in donors are welcome, but appointments will better accommodate donors’ working schedules. To book an appointment, call 1-888-2DONATE (1-888-236-6283).

As with previous clinics, the Department of Human Resources encourages all eligible employees to participate in this worthwhile process and asks any employees who wish to donate to make the necessary arrangements with their supervisors regarding the possibility of extended lunch or break periods.