It will take less than fifteen minutes for you to provide enough information for Eastern Maine Medical Center to determine if you qualify for the Bone Marrow Donor registry.

Meet Makenna Ward of Houlton, now six years old, who is alive today because of two stem cell transplants. She was lucky because her own stem cells were used, but for many children and adults a bone marrow transplant is the only option.

A Champion the Cure Challenge bone marrow drive is being held this Saturday at the Lafayette Family Cancer Center in Brewer.

Another little girl who has received the gift of life through bone marrow donations is little Maggie Rudnicki who we introduced to you in our Team Maggie campaign.

"Adults between the ages of 18 and 55 can join the registry simply by giving five minutes of their time," says Brenda Clements, RN, MSB, OCN at EMMC Cancer Care. "It's as easy as rubbing a swab on the inside of your cheek. It's completely painless and no blood draw is necessary."

Potential donors are added to the bone marrow donor registry and six out of ten people who need a bone marrow match for necessary stem cell transplants never receive one, so the need to increase the amount of qualified donors is critical.

There's no cost to participate in the bone marrow drive Saturday which runs from 8 until 3, and there would be no cost incurred in the event you were selected as a match and went through with the bone marrow donation procedure.

You can contact Brenda Clements if you have more questions about bone marrow donation in general, or about the drive this Saturday.  (207) 973-8810

 

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