This is Jeana Moore, a 73-year-old who’s proud to still be able to call herself a grandma.

Shortly after she was born 19 years ago, her granddaughter Jada was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and needed a stem cell transplant to survive.

“They searched 11 million people, seven in the U.S. and four in Europe because of our ethnicity and they found one perfect match in Germany,” said Moore.

Nearly two decades after that life changing phone call, Moore took it upon herself to bring awareness to an illness that nearly took her granddaughter’s life. 

Moore created the Jada Bascom foundation and logged some serious mileage, one foot after the other.

Since creating the foundation, Moore has walked over 11 thousand kilometers across multiple continents to raise awareness for stem cell registry. 

Just a few days ago, Moore had crossed the Canada/U.S. border, marking her fifth ‘Steps-to-Marrow’ walking journey.

“I knew about bone marrow transplants, but until my granddaughter was affected, I didn’t know the urgency of joining your national registry.”

Throughout her most recent journey, that spans over 570 KM in 45 days, Moore says she’s made some profound connections along the way. All through her QR code she wears around her neck, and on her backpack that she carries by herself.

Moore and her granddaughter’s story has already made a significant impact on blood donorship in Canada and internationally.

“On her fifth walk, over 500 people have clicked to find the stem cell registry in my country, how can I sign up and potentially be the match that a patient needs,” says Eric Belden, Community Development Manager with Canadian Blood Services.

“Each individual, you don’t know, you may be the perfect match for someone who’s waiting right now,” added Moore.