November 7, 2009
On Saturday
November 7, 2009, from 12 Noon to 6:00 p.m. Sun Devil Family Charities (SDFC) is hosting a
recruitment drive to raise awareness about the need for marrow donors, and perhaps
find a matching donor for the many families looking for a donor. The event will take place at 6th Street Park (6th and Myrtle, East of Tempe City Hall) Tempe, Arizona, 85020.
ASU Students,
Faculty and Alumni can take the first step to save a life by joining the Be The
Match Registry between 12 Noon and 6:00 p.m. on November 7, 2009 using
a simple cheek swab.
Donors with
diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds are especially critical, as patients in
need of a transplant are most likely to match someone of their own race and ethnicity.
On October 2, 1999
ASU Athletics, Alumni and fellow Sun Devils rallied to be a potential donor for
former Offensive Lineman Joe Cajic , who was in need of a donor for a life
saving marrow transplant. Joe found a donor and November 3, 2009 marks his 10th cancer free year. SDFC founding members had originally
united to help Joe Cajic find a donor and have continued this effort for other
patients need a marrow donor.
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 Joe Cajic, 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
life-saving match. Financial contributions and volunteers are also needed to
help save lives.
Sun Devil Family
Charities (SDFC) is an all volunteer 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the
purpose to support alumni, students, faculty, and staff of Arizona State
University and their immediate families who need financial assistance resulting
from a medical necessity. Funds raised at SDFC events help
families pay for medical bills and co-pays resulting from devastating medical
illnesses.
For more
information on Sun Devil Family Charities visit www.sundevilfamily.org
The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) operates
the Be The Match Registry and partners with a global network of leading
hospitals, cord blood banks, laboratories and recruiters. As a leader in the
field of marrow and cord blood transplantation, the NMDP facilitates
transplants worldwide, conducts research to improve survival and quality of
life, and provides education to health care professionals and patients. Since
it began operations in 1987, the NMDP has provided more than 35,000 transplants
to help give patients a second chance at life. For more information, visit www.BeTheMatch.org or call 1 - 800 MARROW-2.
© 2009
