Save a Life - Join the Bone Marrow Donor Registry

Be The Match Marrowthon - Free US Registration

2009-06-21T23:13:00.002-04:00

Still time to register for free or tell someone about the Marrowthon. You can save a life, and you don't even need to leave home to register. Fill in the form online, and a cheek swab kit will be sent directly to your home.

Interview: How Being An African American Can Save A Life

2008-12-02T22:57:00.001-05:00

I was interviewed on the DryerBuzz podcast and discussed How Being African American Can Save A Life.

Leave comments about the show online.

The hostess read my brief messages broadcast on Twitter.
Here's how you can find me, her, DryerBuzz, and Heal Emru there.

Stem Cell Awareness - Why is it important to everyone?

2008-11-03T23:44:00.006-05:00

The Month of November is National Marrow Awareness Month in the US. Online registration with the NMDP is free.

November 3-9, 2008 is Canadian Stem Cell Awareness Week. Go to the OneMatch site to find out how to Spread The Word.

November 17-23, 2008 is Anthony Nolan Week in the UK. Check the Anthony Nolan Trust media centre for their latest YouTube video.

So let's try and build some awareness: here are 5 important points that you should know about registration and donation.

1. 70% of people requiring a stem cell transplant need an unrelated donor.

The first choice is a family member, but more people will have to rely on a stranger.

2. Register by providing a blood sample in Quebec or the UK, or a cheek swab sample in the rest of Canada or the US.

In the US, UK and most of Canada, you can even fill in your registration online and get a kit sent to your home.

This is a free service in Canada and the UK as well as many other countries. In the US, there are ways to register for free.

3. Donation is safe, fast, and not risky.

You never donate stem cells or bone marrow at risk to your own life. Whatever is donated replenishes itself naturally in the body.

4. There are 2 ways to do it.

70% of people will donate in a process that takes a few hours and is similar to donating blood. For a few days leading up to the extraction process, the donor receives injections to produce additional stem cells in the body.

30% of people will donate by having liquid marrow extracted from within the back of the pelvic bone.

5. Many people cannot find matches.

There are 8 blood types, but for a stem cell match there are several million combinations of possible human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profiles - 150 billion different possibilities in theory.

Even though blood is important, and people who need transplants (in addition to many other people) need donated blood to survive, people with a rare blood type can probably find a match in a room with 100 people of different ethnicity. For someone looking for a stem cell match, they may need a stadium of 20000 or 50 stadiums (or more) to find a match.

Then they have to hope that person is on the registry.

The most likely match within the general population is someone of the same or similar ethnicity.

How To Register in Quebec
How To Register in Canada
How To Register Online in the United States

Stem Cell Awareness and the Black Community
By the Numbers: Still a State of Emergency

Driving for Bone Marrow

2008-09-09T13:27:00.003-04:00

The Hendrick Marrow Program, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), the NASCAR Foundation and the Jimmie Johnson Foundation have teamed up for the annual NASCAR Foundation Blood and Marrow Drive—providing you with an opportunity to register for free as a potential bone marrow donor.

On September 11, you can visit one of 30 participating race tracks to donate blood and register as a bone marrow donor; some tracks also feature other incentives, like food, t-shirts, and even the opportunity to drive around the track in your own car. (Note that four tracks are holding their events on September 12, September 13, September 21 and December 2.)

If you can't get out to a race track (or, like me, you're just not a racing fan) you can still register as a donor for free online until September 22. Either way, it's time to start your engines.

Denvention 3: The 66th World Science Fiction Convention

2008-08-08T00:56:00.004-04:00

I won't be able to make it to Denvention this year. At first I wasn't sure if I could swing it, but when I decided I really wanted to do it, life got in the way.

I recently mentioned that science fiction, comic and animation fans have been doing a lot to help raise awareness about bone marrow and stem cell donation. For those of you who will be attending the 66th World Science Fiction convention in Denver this week, I would like to direct your attention to these items:

Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Blood Drive (Friday, August 8). You can find out more on the web page and even make an appointment in advance. For those of you reading this who do not know this late science fiction Grand Master, he popularized the term, "Pay It Forward." He believed instead of paying debts back, you could go out and do something equally good for someone else. Incidentally, Emru introduced me to RAH's work when we were kids. Like Heinlein, Emru needed blood when he fell ill - I think it's around 40 times since December.

Heal Emru stickers, flyers and buttons will be available to promote bone marrow and stem cell donation and registration: I would hand these out myself if I were present. Please pick a sticker up at the Anticipation table or a promotional table and consider placing it on your badge and telling your friends where you got it. If you need more information, consult the back of the flyer that should be lurking close by. Emru recently found a match - with lots of help, including fandom's - but over 16000 people are hoping to get the same chance and not all will.

Another great cause that has been garnering a lot of support: Match It For Pratchett folks may have a donation jar at the WesterCon 62/NA Discworld table in the fan table area during the convention. Remember, you can donate every day by just going to the website or contacting your country's leading charity dedicated to Alzheimer's research.

Many fans have big hearts, but this year I have seen it in action more than ever from a very personal level. So to anyone who reads this who is considering one or more of these suggestions, runs charity or awareness-raising events at your local convention, or just does something to help another person out at other times of the year: thank you.

Have a fantastic five days.

Do you have any good causes you know about at the convention? Let me know and I will update this message!

Quick Picks: New Recruitment Endeavour, Family Copes With Teen's Cancer and Transplant, More People Searching For A Donor

2008-08-04T20:58:00.007-04:00

USA - SheKnows, Save Giovanni and DKMS Americas team up to recruit 50000 new registrants - 15000 registrants, and 14 matches later, the Save Giovanni campaign embarks on a new campaign to recruit more potential donors by next year.

Southern California - The Battle Rages On - Chase Crawford-Quickel finds out he has a rare blood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma, and gets a stem cell transplant for the second time in his young life. A well-written account, which includes a brief summary of both methods of donation.

"Chase,a wiry young man with a dry sense of humor, says he is willing to tell his story only in order to raise awareness about bone marrow transplants."

Birmingham, UK - Firefighter's Donor Search in Leukaemia Battle and Bone Marrow Donors Could Help Little Alishba - Two people are looking for a matching donor. While no one is guaranteed a match, Alishba is South Asian and may face a more difficult search.

"Even if none of the donors my mates encourage to come forward is a perfect match for me, they could serve to save someone else's life."

Bone Marrow Drive in Jefferson, Georgia on July 3

2008-06-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

From the Main Street News:

As Booth receives what may be a life-saving transplant of bone marrow Thursday, July 3, they’ll be holding a blood drive in his honor at New Hope Baptist Church.
The American Red Cross blood drive, set from 2:00 p.m. to 8 p.m., has two purposes. One is to honor Booth while helping the Red Cross meet its blood needs. The other is to raise awareness of the National Bone Marrow Registry that helped Booth find a donor.

“They will just test people with a mouth swab and see if they’re interested in donating bone marrow,” said Stowers, who added that there is no charge for the screening.

“We hope to have at least 50 people,” said Stowers. “Of that, I would expect 35 to be able to donate. I’d like to shoot for a hundred. You don’t have to be able to donate blood to be a bone marrow donor, and people could make a donation to the Red Cross or sign up for the bone marrow registry.”

New Hope Baptist Church is located at 211 Stapler Drive, at the corner of U.S. 441 and Old Kings Bridge Road a mile south of Benton Elementary School.

Bone Marrow Drive in Norwalk, California on July 26

2008-06-28T23:19:00.003-04:00

I got this a little late. From the Press-Telegram:

[Krissy] Kobata's rare condition is compounded by the lack of a bone-marrow match, which doctors say is now an urgent need. Kobata's family is of mixed heritage - Japanese and Caucasian - which has made it more difficult for her to find a donor match. Kobata's brother, her only sibling, is not a match.

Kobata's family and the Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches, an affiliate of the National Marrow Donor Program, have arranged for bone-marrow drives in Los Angeles County, including Long Beach.

The only drive that hasn't passed a yet is this one:

Southeast Japanese School and Cultural Center, 14615 Gridley Road, Norwalk; July 26, 3 to 8 p.m., and July 27, 2to 6 p.m.

Vote for Pat!

2008-06-24T00:00:00.009-04:00

Pat Pedraja is a young man on a mission. Pat is seeking to educate people about the bone marrow registry and register more people, especially minority donors. In Canada, it is free to register. In the US, if it is free, it is because someone else paid for the typing costs already. Someone contributed money or raised a lot of funds to ensure people would be able to register.

Unlike Canada, the US runs bone marrow drives, which are a proven method for recruiting a large number of people and diversifying the registry. Pat pledged to recruit 2007 people for 2007, and ended up recruiting over 6500 people in over 30 US cities in 3 months. This year, he is back on the road again, driving for donors.

Pat does not require a donor, but this 13-year-old 2007 CNN Hero has lived with leukemia since he was 10 years old. Pat writes:

Your vote will make a difference!
HI, it's Pat from Driving For Donors!

I need your votes for these 2 awards. To me it's about more than winning a contest, it's about saving lives! I have registered over 10,000 new marrow donors and helped find 4 life saving matches for people in need! The more people that hear about my work and register as marrow donors the more lives we can save!

I need the help of adults and kids too! Can you please take a minute to vote and pass this on to everyone you know so they can help me as well!
Teen Choice / Do Something Award voting is for 13 to 19 year olds so (if YOU'RE NOT) please forward this to your kids and ask them to vote! If I'm the top vote getter, I'll be on the TEEN CHOICE AWARDS (with Miley Cyrus) and receive $100,000 for Driving for Donors! That can save a lot of lives!

Vote everyday until August 1st!

CLICK HERE to vote for Pat for the Teen Choice Do Something Award!

Everyone can vote for the Energizer Award so Vote everyday until July 25th and pass it on so others can help!

CLICK HERE to vote for Pat for the Energizer Award! Vote Every Day until July 25th!

Help us by starting a VOTE FOR PAT Campaign on your MySpace or Website!

Bone Marrow Drive in San Francisco, California on June 14

2008-06-12T00:31:00.004-04:00

This is Michelle. She is in her 20s, just got married and has been living with leukemia. She needs a bone marrow transplant and requires an unrelated donor. Project Michelle has helped increase her chances and highlighted the shortage of Asian donors in the registry.

So far, Project Michelle has helped register 8000 people at bone marrow drives. Why don't we do these in Canada? Someone remind me, please.

Bone Marrow Drive in San Francisco, California on June 14

2008-06-04T17:03:00.001-04:00

From hapihour.org:

WHAT: In-n-Out: The Drive to Increase Asian American Registered Bone Marrow Donors

WHEN: Saturday | June 14, 2008 | 10 am - 3 pm

WHERE: Chinese for Affirmative Action, Community Room
The Kuo Building
17 Walter U. Lum Place
San Francisco, CA 94108
COST: Free

To RSVP and to show your support, please visit our Facebook Event and/or our Evite.

Bone Marrow Drive in Mulberry, Florida on May 31

2008-05-30T17:48:00.002-04:00

From the Ledger:

In order for Liam to be cured, he needs a bone marrow transplant.

To find a match for him, Mulberry United Methodist Church will be having a blood drive/bone marrow screening from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Bone Marrow Drive in Bridgeport, Connecticut on June 1

2008-05-30T16:43:00.001-04:00

From the Connecticut Post:

To aid Lemos — and others in need of a transplant — the Vasco da Gama Portuguese Cultural & Civic Center, 355 James St., Bridgeport will host a bone marrow donor registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Bone Marrow Drives in Westminster and Cerritos, California on May 31

2008-05-30T15:36:00.002-04:00

Two more Project Michelle marrow drives, courtesy of Peachies.net:

ABC Supermarket
Sat, May 31, 10am – 4pm
6970 Bolsa Ave., Westminster, CA 92683

Cerritos Farmer’s Market, Cerritos Town Center
Sat, May 31, 8am – 12pm
Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos, CA 90703

Bone Marrow Drive in Fremont, California on May 31

2008-05-28T22:38:00.001-04:00

From The Maykazine:

Project Michelle
Bone Marrow Registration Drive

Saturday May 31, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Club Sport Fremont
46650 Landing Parkway
Fremont, California 94538

Save the Date: This Week's Bone Marrow Registration Drives

2008-05-26T10:27:00.002-04:00

Here's a reminder of the bone marrow registration drives we're aware of that are coming up over the next seven days:

May 27
Isabela, Puerto Rico - Iglesia Presbiteriana de Borinquen, Clinica de Salud
Pompano Beach, Florida - Consulado Brasileiro Itinerante
San Jose, California - Price Waterhouse Coopers

May 28
Sacramento, California - APAPA Internship Event
San Mateo, California - Guideware Software
Orford, England - Tetley Walker Social Club

May 29
La Moca, Puerto Rico - Instituto de Banca de Moca
Union City, California - James Logan High School

May 30
San Diego, California - Naval Base San Diego Main Navy Exchange
San Francisco, California - Vision Shock Party

May 31
Wilminton, Delaware - Faith Baptist Church Health Fair
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Igreja San Martin of Tours, Lower Church
Jamaican, New York - Roy Wilkins Family Recreation Center
London, England - Tiger Tiger

June 1
Delran, New Jersey - Harvest English Institute
Los Angeles, California - Temple Beth Am
Cupertino, California - Good Shepherd Church
Union City, California - GRX Church-Fremont

Bone Marrow Drive in Union City, California on May 29

2008-05-26T09:53:00.001-04:00

From the Argus:

Inspired by spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi, who told people to "be the change we wish to see in the world," James Logan High School students will hold a disaster-relief fundraiser and bone marrow drive during the school's unofficial "Be the Change" Week.

While that fundraiser takes place throughout the week, junior Supada Sritanyaratana has organized a bone marrow drive for Thursday. Only staff and students over 18 can register, a process which includes using a cotton swab to collect a saliva sample from the mouth.

Because no single ethnic group makes up more than 30 percent of the population at Logan High, "I thought that Logan would be the perfect place to set up this ... drive, (given) our great diversity," Sritanyaratana said.

Bone Marrow Drive in Medford, Massachusetts on June 7

2008-05-25T15:39:00.001-04:00

From InsideMedford.com:

Tufts University will host a donor registration drive for the Dana-Farber Marrow Donor Program on June 7 in honor of local baseball legend Bill Monbouqette.

The registration drive, organized by Monbouquette’s former Red Sox teammate Jerry Moses, will take place from 10AM to 6PM at Cousens Gym at Tufts, 161 College Avenue, Medford.

Bone Marrow Drive in San Diego, California on May 30

2008-05-24T13:36:00.002-04:00

From Navy Compass:

A Bone Marrow Donor Registration Drive will be held on May 30 at Naval Base San Diego Main Navy Exchange, in honor of Zoe Hunter. Zoe is the daughter of IT2 (EXW) Tom Hunter a Navy Reservist, assigned to Navy Weapons Station Seal Beach, Boat Detachment 343.

That's all there is in the way of drive details, but I suspect that, like an earlier drive we mentioned held on a military base, the drive is only open to "all active duty military, their immediate dependents, DoD civilian employees, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reservists, ages 18 to 60."

Bone Marrow Drive in San Jose, California on May 25

2008-05-23T23:31:00.002-04:00

From Radio Javan:

This year's event is being held on May 25th in the San Jose area to support thousands of people in need of bone marrow transplants. This drive is in honor of a young Iranian man who has been told he needs a transplant and unfortunately his family are not a match.

Drive details:
Drive Location: Campbell Community Center
Address: One West Campbell Avenue Bldg. D Room 38-39, Campbell, CA 95008 (map)
Drive Date: May 25 2008
Drive Time: 1:00PM - 6:00PM

Bone Marrow Drive in Los Angeles, California on June 1

2008-05-23T17:18:00.002-04:00

From the YABA Blog. This event is both a blood drive and a bone marrow drive:

Please sign up today for an appointment to donate blood! (You don't need an appointment to sign up for the National Marrow Donor Registry.)

What: Blood & Bone Marrow Drive
When: Sunday 1 June 2008
Time: 9 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Where: Temple Beth Am - 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., LA, 90035
RSVP: http://www.bikurcholim.net/BikurCholim/Site/Blood/appointment.asp?m=15

Bone Marrow Drive in Fredericksburg, Virginia on May 24

2008-05-22T18:59:00.001-04:00

From the Free Lance-Star:

Former James Monroe basketball standout Cedric Hopkins is still in need of a bone-marrow transplant.

No match was found for Hopkins among the 125 potential donors who showed up for the bone-marrow drive that was held last month at the Dorothy Hart Community Center in Fredericksburg, according to his mother, Maggie Hopkins.

A new drive will be held on Saturday at the Mayfield Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Save the Date: This Week's Bone Marrow Registration Drives

2008-05-19T23:28:00.005-04:00

Here's a reminder of the bone marrow registration drives we're aware of that are coming up over the next seven days:

May 20
Kent, England - Princes Plain Primary School

May 23
Providence, Rhode Island - MET School
Longmont, Colorado - Longmont United Hospital

May 24
Brooklyn, New York - St. Augustine Episcopal Church
Katonah, New York - Katonah Village Library
York, Pennsylvania - YMCA Community Center

May 25
Jamestown, Rhode Island - Portuguese Hall

Bone Marrow Drive in York, Pennsylvania on May 24

2008-05-19T22:37:00.002-04:00

Registration at this event is free for minorities. From the York Daily Record/Sunday News:

Minorities between ages 18 and 60 are needed for the National Marrow Donor Program and can be screened at a bone marrow drive 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the YMCA Community Center, 452 N. Beaver St. in York.

Bone Marrow Drives in Laconia, New Hampshire from June 14 to June 22

2008-05-19T21:59:00.001-04:00

From the Concord Monitor:

During Bike Week, from June 14 to 22, there will be a week-long bone marrow drive in Laconia sponsored by 10 radio stations and organized by Guglielmo and by Jim Fronk of the radio station The Hawk. The drive will be held at Sparkle Clean Car Wash on Route 11 on the side of Paugus Bay, in a trailer dubbed the "Save A Life Trailer." Another location will be set up in a tent at Thurston's Marina next to the Hawk RV.