Written by Amy Brousseau. Media by Taylor Neal.
WHAT: On October 22nd and 23rd, friends of the Ulmer family are hosting a donor registry drive to raise awareness about the need for marrow donors, and to perhaps find a matching donor for 64-year-old David Ulmer and many other patients like him.
Greenville residents can take the first step to save a life by joining the Be The Match Registry between 11am and 8pm on Tuesday October 22nd or 9am and 6pm on Wednesday October 23rd at Greenville College using a simple cheek swab. Donors with diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds are especially needed, as patients in need of a transplant are most likely to match someone who shares their same race or ethnicity. Potential donors must be in good general health and be between the ages of 18 and 44.
The total cost to add each new member to the Be The Match Registry is about $100. Be The Match relies on financial contributions to help cover these costs. Contributions to Be The Match Foundation help add more members to the Be The Match Registry, giving more patients hope for a cure. Those joining the Be The Match Registry are asked to give what they can. Donations to support these drives can be made at www.bethematchfoundation.org/goto/davidulmer
WHEN: October 22nd, 2013 & October 23rd , 2013
11am – 8pm, 9am – 6pm
WHERE: Greenville College
Krober Room, Armington Center
315 E. College Avenue
Greenville, IL 62246
WHY: For thousands of patients with life-threatening diseases, such as leukemia and lymphoma, a marrow transplant from an unrelated donor is their best or only hope for a cure. These patients, like David, depend on the Be The Match Registry to find a match – and a second chance at life. While many patients do find the life-saving match they need each year, more donors are needed to help increase the likelihood that all patients will find a match. Financial contributions to Be The Match Foundation and volunteers are also needed to help save lives.
Be The Match helps patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other diseases who need a marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. People can join the Be The Match Registry – the world’s largest listing of potential marrow donors and donated cord blood units – contribute financially and volunteer. Patients and their families can also turn to Be The Match for support and resources before, during and after transplant. Be The Match is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), a nonprofit organization that matches patients with donors, educates health care professionals and conducts research so more lives can be saved. For more information, visit BeTheMatch.org or call 1 (800) MARROW-2.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Brousseau, Phone: 877-601-1925 x7799, Cell: 618-444-3809, E-mail: abrousse@nmdp.org
Potential donors must be in good general health and be between the ages of 18 and 44.