August 8, 2008
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! Labels: blood drive, Colorado, conventions, flyers, US August 4, 2008
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." Labels: Anthony Nolan Trust, California, DKMS, minority donors, UK, US June 29, 2008
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. Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, Georgia, US June 28, 2008
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. 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. Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, California, US June 24, 2008
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!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! Labels: bone marrow drives, minority donors, NMDP, US June 12, 2008 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. Labels: bone marrow drives, California, minority donors, NMDP, US June 4, 2008
From hapihour.org:
WHAT: In-n-Out: The Drive to Increase Asian American Registered Bone Marrow Donors Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, California, minority donors, US May 30, 2008
From the Ledger:
In order for Liam to be cured, he needs a bone marrow transplant. Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, Florida, US
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. Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, Connecticut, US
Two more Project Michelle marrow drives, courtesy of Peachies.net:
ABC Supermarket Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, California, US May 28, 2008
From The Maykazine:
Project Michelle Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, California, US May 26, 2008
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 Labels: bone marrow drives, California, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, UK, US
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. Labels: bone marrow drives, California, US May 25, 2008
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. Labels: bone marrow drives, Massachusetts, US May 24, 2008
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." Labels: bone marrow drives, California, US May 23, 2008
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 Labels: bone marrow drives, California, US
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.) Labels: bone marrow drives, California, US May 22, 2008
From the Free Lance-Star:
Former James Monroe basketball standout Cedric Hopkins is still in need of a bone-marrow transplant. Labels: bone marrow drives, US, Virginia May 19, 2008
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 Labels: bone marrow drives, Colorado, New York, Rhode Island, UK, US
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. Labels: bone marrow drives, free registration, minority donors, Pennsylvania, US
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. Labels: bone marrow drives, New Hampshire, US May 18, 2008
Here's another way to get registrants and monetary donations for the National Marrow Donor Program: Throw a party! It all goes down tonight in Portland, Oregon. From The Portland Mercury:
Live music! Beer! Helping sick kids! Labels: bone marrow drives, free registration, NMDP, Oregon, US
From Lend a Hand, Inc.:
What: Bone Marrow Drive 1: HELP SAVE MICHELLE! Labels: bone marrow drives, minority donors, Texas, US
The Thanks Mom event is winding to a close. While it's generally possible to find free or reduced-cost registration year-round, it's never quite as easy as during this event. From the Bastrop Daily Enterprise:
The International Paper Company in conjunction with Morehouse General Hospital are joining together to hold a bone marrow drive called the Thanks Mom Campaign from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 19 at the Louisiana Mill Learning Center. Labels: bone marrow drives, free registration, Louisiana, NMDP, US May 15, 2008
Just got word of six drives happening in NYC over the next five weeks:
May 17 Eastchester Playground Adjacent from 1219 Adee Avenue Bronx, NY 10407 917.498.1695 May 24 St. Augustine Episcopal Church 4301 Ave. D Brooklyn, NY 11203 718.629.0959 May 29 Fraternal New York State Troopers 911 West John Street Hickville, NY 11801 917.593.4174 May 31 National Women's Health Awareness Day Roy Wilkins Family Recreation Center Baisley Blvd & 177th Street Jamaica, NY 11434 718.712.0873 June 7 Powerful Praise Tabernacle 708-710 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11205 718.422.1170 June 22 Church of St. Marks 1346 President Street Brooklyn, NY 11213 718.756.6607 Labels: bone marrow drives, New York, US May 13, 2008
From the Longmont Times-Call:
Local residents can join for free during the second annual “thanks mom” Marrow Donor Drive, from 4 to 8 p.m May 23 at Longmont United Hospital. Normally, it costs $52 to join, according to the National Marrow Donor Program. Labels: bone marrow drives, Colorado, free registration, US
From News10.net:
Bloodsource will hold another bone-marrow drive on Friday, May 16 at Kaiser Hospital in Roseville at 1600 Eureka Rd., from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Labels: bone marrow drives, California, free registration, US
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
From 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Loyola Center for Health and Fitness in Maywood, the National Marrow Donor Program will hold a bone-marrow drive on behalf of Kim and several others. It's part of a national effort called "Thanks Mom Donor Drive." Labels: bone marrow drives, free registration, Illinois, US May 12, 2008
From The Greenville News:
When Katie-Belle Cooley of Greenville was diagnosed with infant leukemia at the tender age of 8 1/2 months, her mom knew she would need to take action. Karen Cooley enlisted the help of family, friends, and the National Marrow Donor Program to help add volunteers to the national bone marrow donor registry. Their efforts culminate on Saturday, May 17th at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church located at 3710 Augusta Road from 10am until 4pm. Labels: bone marrow drives, free registration, South Carolina, US
From the Connecticut Post:
Forget blood drives. Joseph A. Foran High School's Interact Club is going deeper with an effort to get bone marrow donors. Labels: bone marrow drives, Connecticut, free registration, US May 11, 2008
Here's a reminder of the bone marrow drives coming up over the next seven days. Many of these drives are free, as part of the National Marrow Donor Program's "Thanks Mom" event.
May 12 Columbus, Ohio - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute Syracuse, New York - Boys & Girls Club Sacramento, California - UC Davis Cancer Center Kansas City, Missouri - Children’s Mercy Hospital North Plainfield, New Jersey - Vermeule Community Center Shoreview, Minnesota - Turtle Lake School Rutland, Vermont - Alderman's Chevrolet May 13 North Scituate, Rhode Island - Ponaganset Middle School Hopkins, Minnesota - Shepherd of the Hill Church Hannibal, Missouri - Cary Cancer Center Manchester, Vermont - Manchester Rescue Fair Haven, Vermont - Fair Haven Union High School May 14 Providence, Rhode Island - Hasbro Children's Hospital Madison, Alabama - Dublin Park May 15 Jeffersonville, New York - St. George's Church Liberty, New York - Liberty High School Kansas City, Missouri - St. Charles Borromeo Parish Minneapolis, Minnesota - Nicollet Mall Farmers Market Middlebury, Vermont - Porter Medical Center Huddersfield, England - Newsome South Methodist Church Hall May 16 Rome, Georgia - Redmond Regional Medical Center Stony Brook, New York - Stony Brook University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Pittsford, Vermont - Vermont Police Academy May 17 Central Falls, Rhode Island - Wyatt Detention Facility’s Training Center Springield, Pennsylvania - Springfield Township High School Townshend, Vermont - Grace Cottage Hospital May 18 Mount Holly, Vermont - Mount Holly Rescue Fair Parkville, Missouri - St. Therese Parish Kansas City, Missouri - Temple B’nai Jehudah Kansas City, Missouri - Christ Church St. Paul, Minnesota - St. Andrew's Lutheran Church St. Paul, Minnesota - St. George Greek Orthodox Church Labels: Alabama, bone marrow drives, California, free registration, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, UK, US, Vermont
From MyCentralJersey.com:
From 1:30 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Vermeule Community Center, 301 Clinton Ave., the North Plainfield Policemen's Benevolant Assocation and International Association of Firefighters in conjunction with the HLA Registry and Community Blood Services will hold a blood and bone marrow donor registry drive. Labels: bone marrow drives, free registration, New Jersey, US
From the Star Tribune:
2:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Turtle Lake School, 1141 Lepak Court, Shoreview Labels: bone marrow drives, free registration, Minnesota, US ![]() The National Marrow Donor Program's Thanks Mom event also features a page called The Donor Garden. You can add your photo to a collage of people who have registered, know a loved one who is waiting for or received a transplant, or if you have been a donor or recipient. My ID is 100249. Add your name to the garden. Labels: bone marrow drives, donor stories, free registration, NMDP, personal appeal, US Mother's Day is a time to reflect on how important our mothers are and to celebrate them. Giving life is a powerful experience and the bond between a mother and child are not to be underestimated. Now try to magine the gift a mother receives when she learns that her critically ill child has a second chance at life. Or how a child fe | |