Boston Marrow-thon: Swab a Cheek and Become the Miracle Match
Boston Marrow-thon: Swab a Cheek and Become the Miracle Match
Boston, MA (PRWEB) April 16, 2009
Two year old Eve is an adorable little girl. Like any parent, Eve’s mom and dad envisioned a bright and promising future for their daughter. Then disaster struck: Eve was diagnosed with acute leukemia and is in urgent need of a donor so she can receive the transplant that can save her life.So far, no match has been found.
Tissue type is inherited, like eye or hair color. Eve’s best chance of finding a genetic match lies with donors of Eastern European Jewish descent.
Eve is not alone. It is reported that one in 200 Americans will receive a transplant with marrow, blood stem cells or cord blood in their lifetime. One in 400 will require cells from another person (a donor). Only 30 percent of patients have a relative who is a match. The rest must search the unrelated donor pool. There is an urgent need to grow the registry of potential donors so that all patients like Eve can have an equal opportunity to receive the transplant they so desperately need.
The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation will be hosting a donor recruitment drive at Congregation Kehillath Israel, 384 Harvard Street in Brookline on Sunday, April 19 from 10:30am – 2pm and Monday, April 20 from 10am – 3pm. You can find out if you are a match for Eve and countless other children and adults by joining Gift of Life, an affiliate of the National Marrow Donor Program and the worldwide donor registry. Testing is fast and painless, involving only a simple cheek swab. Eligible donors must be between the ages of 18-60 and in general good health. The goal for this drive is 1,000 new donors. Visit http://www.giftoflife.org/Public/News.aspx?news_id=91
A family friend wrote, “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for responding to this urgent call. And so does Eve, whose courage, humor, and unsinkable spirit – even at 2 ½ years old – are an inspiration to all who are lucky enough to know her.”
The drive will take place as runners participate in the Boston Marathon, so spectators are also encouraged to join up at the Gift of Life drive for Eve! If you do not reside in Boston, click here to register online!
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