YOUR HERITAGE SAVES LIVES
ETHNICALLY DIVERSE DONORS ARE NEEDED NOW
July 28th Destination Health Marrow Drive
Every year, more than 10,000 people are diagnosed with life-threatening blood diseases like leukemia and lymphoma. Often a patient’s only hope for survival is finding an unrelated marrow donor whose tissue type matches their own. About 70 percent of patients are unable to find a compatible donor within their family and must search for an unrelated donor on the Be The Match Registry®. The African American and multi-racial population only represents 7 percent of the nearly 9 million people on the national registry.
You could be the match for a patient in need. Join Bonfils’ Colorado Marrow Donor Program (CMDP) and CBS4 for a special marrow drive on Saturday, July 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m at the Destination Health event to join the Be The Match Registry® and give someone a second chance at life. Registration is fast, easy and painless.
What are the eligibility requirements and how do I join?
Anyone age 18 to 60 who is willing to donate to any patient in need and meets the health guidelines can join. Registrants simply fill out a health history and consent form and provide a small sample of cells through a cheek swab. Call 303.363.2348 or 800.619.1099 for details.
Contact Bonfils’ CMDP at 303.363.2348 or visit www.marrow.org for more information.
Why is there a need for more people to join the registry?
More than 10,000 patients are newly diagnosed each year with blood cancers. More donors are continually needed to help this growing number of patients find an unrelated match because 70 percent of patients do not have a donor in their family.
Does race or ethnicity affect matching?
Yes. Ethnicity is crucial when matching patients with donors. Since tissue type is inherited, patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds are less likely to find a matching donor because minority donors are severely underrepresented on the registry. Today, there simply aren’t enough registry members of diverse racial and ethnic heritage. Adding more diverse members increases the likelihood that all patients will find a lifesaving match.
What is my commitment if I join?
When you join the Be The Match Registry ®, you make a commitment to:
- Be listed on the registry until your 61st birthday, unless you ask to be removed
- Consider donating to any searching patient who matches you
- Keep CMDP updated if your address changes, you have significant health changes or you change your mind about being a donor
- Respond quickly if you are contacted as a potential match for a patient.
Do I have to pay to donate?
Donors never pay to donate. All medical costs are covered by the patient’s medical insurance, sometimes with National Marrow Donor Program assistance.
Is there a cost to join the Be The Match Registry®?
No, however, in order to continue our lifesaving work we need financial contributions. Gifts made to CMDP help cover the cost of adding potential donors to the Be The Match Registry®. The total cost to add a new member to the Be The Match Registry® is about $100. This includes the initial tissue typing test needed to match donors to searching patients and other related costs.
How else can I help?
Make a financial contribution to allow others to join the registry in the future or host a marrow drive at your business, school or faith-based organization. Call 303.363.2348 or 800.619.1099 for details.
Mark Jenkins
A Colorado National Guardsman who is dedicated to serving his country is now calling on others for help. Staff Sgt. Mark Jenkins is a full-time soldier and a leukemia patient. Mark desperately needs a marrow transplant but he can’t find a donor match, so as time runs out he’s speaking out and hoping people will hear him and help. “We have a tremendous question mark in our lives,” Mark said. “I am worried; everyday,” Mark’s wife Darlene said.
Often a patient’s only hope for survival is finding an unrelated marrow donor whose tissue type matches their own. Patients like Mark are more likely to match donors of their same race and ethnicity, but African-American and multi-racial populations only represent 7 and 3 percent, respectively, of the nearly 9 million people on the national registry. The need for ethnically diverse donors is critical.
Johnika Carter
Johnika recently graduated high school and has a life full of big dreams and aspirations. Unfortunately, her dreams have been put on hold with the diagnosis of two life-threatening blood disorders for which a marrow transplant is her only hope for survival. Since tissue type is inherited patients are more likely to find a marrow/stem cell match with someone who shares a similar ethnic background. Families depend on you to be their hope.
Please help Johnika, Mark and the thousands of other patients like them by being a blessing and joining the Be The Match Registry®.
The total cost to add a new member to the Be The Match Registry® is about $100. This includes the initial tissue typing test needed to match donors to searching patients and other related costs. Others have contributed toward the costs so funds are currently available so people can join today, however we ask each potential donor along with other individuals, organizations and foundations to make a tax-deductable monetary gift to ensure financial resources are available to cover costs of registering future marrow donors eager to help patients in need of a lifesaving marrow transplant. CMDP must raise $80,000 this year to assure that its work continues. Your charitable gift will allow us to help prospective donors save a life.
Contact Bonfils’ CMDP at 303.363.2348 or visit www.marrow.org for more information.
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Myth Busters
MYTH: There are plenty of ethnically diverse donors on the registry to help patients in need of a match.
FACT: More donors are always needed particularly donors of a racially or ethnically diverse heritage. Patients are most likely to match donors of their same race and ethnicity. The African American and multi-racial population only represents 7 percent of the nearly 9 million people on the national registry.
MYTH: All marrow donations involve surgery.
FACT: The majority of procedures do not involve surgery and are much like making a blood donation. Today, the patient’s doctor most often requests a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation, which is similar to making a blood donation. The second way of donating is marrow donation, which is a surgical procedure. In each case, donors typically go home the same day they donate.
MYTH: Donating marrow is painful and involves a long recovery.
FACT: There can be uncomfortable but short-lived side effects of making a PBSC donation. PBSC donors may have headaches, joint or muscle aches or fatigue after the donation but are typically back to their normal routine in one to two days. Those donating marrow receive general or regional anesthesia, so they feel no pain during donation. Marrow donors can expect to feel some soreness in their lower back for one to two weeks afterward. Most marrow donors are back to their normal activities in two to seven days.
MYTH: Donating is dangerous and weakens the donor.
FACT: Though no medical procedure is without risk, there are rarely long-term side effects. If you are a potential match, Bonfils’ Colorado Marrow Donor Program (CMDP) will contact you to undergo further testing to determine if you are a true match. If it is determined that you are a true match, you will undergo a physical examination to ensure you are healthy enough to give. Only a small amount of a donor’s marrow is needed to save the patient’s life and the donor’s immune system stays strong and the cells replace themselves within a few weeks.
