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By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Smyth's battle with leukemia forever remembered annual conference, which will take place in Toronto on the Friday, where they will talk to the gathering about their son. They will also be there to inform the numerous doctors in attendance about how Smyth's S h w a c h m a n - David Smyth Diamond Syndrome progressed into an acute form of leukemia. Michael said he has invited key individuals from Canadian Blood Services and various authorities on stem cell research to sit at his table so he can facilitate a discussion on how to get more people on Canada's bone marrow registry. "I think having this collaboration, having this discussion, even if it has to happen at my table, is what David would have wanted," said Michael. Smyth's father said the conference is important because it will serve as a forum where experts in the area of stem cell research can tell the government exactly what they need to help Canadians waiting on the bone marrow transplant list. The national bone marrow registry currently has approximately 317,000 potential donors listed on it. The number of people needing a bone marrow transplant in Canada has grown from 800 in 2010 to 950 today. Canada's bone marrow registry is so small, Michael said, that Canadians in need rarely find a match and must rely on international registries. This can be a problem, explained 7 · Wednesday, April 11, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com His struggle against leukemia inspired others and now his name will be forever associated with groundbreaking research that could one day make leukemia history. This Friday (April 13), the Canadian Blood and Marrow Transplant Group (CBMTG) will announce the creation of the David Smyth Award -- a grant that will be given out annually to support the development of new research within the blood and marrow transplant field. Smyth, an Oakville resident, passed away Sept. 3, 2010 at the age of 20, but not before raising awareness about the importance of registering as a bone marrow donor. Smyth's efforts convinced hundreds of people to register as potential bone marrow donors before his death while hundreds more signed up in his memory. The CBMTG said it has yet to finalize the exact parameters of the David Smyth Award. Smyth's father, Michael, said the CBMTG's decision to name an annual grant after his son means a lot. "It's amazing," he said. "To have Canada's doctors say that my son's efforts to try to help them really meant something to them... is very touching." Michael said he and his wife, Kim, have also been invited to attend the CBMTG 13th Michael, because arranging a transplant through these international registries can take so long that the patient dies waiting. On its website, CBMTG describes itself as a member-led, national, multidisciplinary organization, which provides strategic leadership that results in excellence in clinical care, research and education within the Canadian blood and marrow transplant field. For more information visit www. cbmtg.org. David Lea can be reached at dlea@ oakvillebeaver.com and followed on Twitter at @DavidLea6. Fern Hill A School Like No other Exciting new offering -- Mandarin in PS and JK Fern Hill is more than a school; it is a community that encourages academic excellence and provides opportunities to build confidence and respect. From our youngest students in Preschool to our senior students in Grade 8, Fern Hill provides an exceptional education that includes art, music, athletics, drama, French and Mandarin. Subject-specific teachers, community service and an enriched, customized curriculum that goes beyond the classroom enables our students to excel. CoMe ViSit US! Saturday, April 21, 2012 | 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. oakville Campus | 3300 Ninth Line oakville, oN | 905.257.0022 admissions@fernhillschool.com | www.fernhillschool.com Open HOuse