If you had the opportunity to save a stranger's life, would you?
Every year, 35,000 people in the United States are stricken with a blood-related disease. For many, a marrow transplant is their only hope for life, and for 70 percent of these patients, a matching donor must be found outside of their immediate family.
The city of Arvada, in conjunction with Bonfils Colorado Marrow Donor Program, is hosting the eighth annual DJ Dimas Bone Marrow Drive to encourage community members to register on the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry. The Drive honors the memory of former Arvada resident
Daniel "DJ" Dimas, who was stricken with leukemia in 2000 and passed away in 2001, unable to find a bone marrow match. Since the first drive in 2000, more than 300 people have been added to the National Registry.
WHAT: Eighth annual DJ Dimas Bone Marrow Registry Drive
WHEN: Tuesday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Arvada City Hall, 8101 Ralston RoadAnyone between the ages of 18 and 60 who is in general good health can join the program. It only takes a few minutes to join the National Bone Marrow Registry. Fill out a health history and consent form, and a cheek swab will be taken to determine your tissue type. Due to the small representation of minority donors on the registry, Federal funding was put in place to offset donor registration fees. There is a nominal $30 fee for Caucasians who wish to join the Registry. The fee helps defray the cost of testing.
For more information about the National Marrow Donor Program and marrow donation procedures, call the Colorado Marrow Donor Program at 303-363-2345 or log on to
www.marrow.org. For information about the drive at Arvada City Hall, call 720-898-7500.
Maria VanderKolk is an assistant to the city manager for the city of Arvada.