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SEUN HAS LEUKEMIA AND NEEDS YOUR HELP
Born in Nigeria and raised in Alabama, Seun Adebiyi graduated from the Yale Law School in 2009. The 26 year-old New York resident was then diagnosed with two aggressive forms of blood cancer while training for the Winter Olympics. Like most ethnic minorities in need of a bone marrow transplant, he couldn’t find a perfect adult stem cell match, and he had to resort to a double chord transplant. Most Africans and African-Americans aren’t so lucky. Due to the vast genetic diversity within the population and the under-representation of minorities on the registry, fewer than half will find their lifesaving match because patients are more likely to be compatible with a donor who is of the same ethnicity. Support the students of the Columbia Business School as they help Seun reach his goal of registering 10,000 donors with DKMS, the world’s largest bone marrow center! |
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BECOME A LIFESAVER! REGISTER AS A BONE MARROW DONOR! Every dollar counts! DKMS depends on your dollars to finance the $65 registration cost. MAKE A $ DONATION $ and select code: SAN 008 |
REGISTERING AS A BONE MARROW DONOR IS MORE THAN A CHEEK SWAB — IT IS A COMMITMENT TO HELP SAVE A LIFE.
About DKMS
The DKMS mission is to save lives by recruiting bone marrow donors for leukemia patients. More than 20,000 DKMS donors have helped save lives by donating their bone marrow. DKMS is the largest and most experienced bone marrow donor center in the world with more than two million registered donors. DKMS Americas is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.
Why are YOU so important as a bone marrow donor?
Every 10 minutes blood cancer takes a life. Leukemia is the most common disease children and young adults in the U.S die of, and a bone marrow transplant may be their only chance for survival. Only 4 out of every 10 patients will receive the transplant that could save their lives.
What is your commitment if you decide to register?
You will be listed on the national registry, and you will be listed in the Match Registry until your 61st birthday, unless you ask to be removed. You will consider donating to any searching patient who needs a bone marrow transplant.
What is the process to become a bone marrow donor?
First, DKMS needs to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements and understand your commitment. You will be asked to complete a registration form, and at the donation event, you provide a saliva sample by using a cotton-tipped swab to collect cheek cells, which will identify your HLA tissue-type.
What is the donation process like?
If you are found to be a match, a DKMS representative will contact you. You will answer a health questionnaire, and if there are no issues found, you will go on for additional testing (this includes blood test and physical exam). If you are found to be the best suitable donor, you will go on to donate in 1 of 2 ways.
1. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC): This procedure, called apheresis, involves receiving a medication that increases the number of the donor’s blood cells and then these cells are collected directly from the blood stream. Some donors have reported bone or muscle aches, but the side effects disappear shortly after the collection.
2. Bone Marrow Extraction: Marrow donation is a surgical procedure, usually outpatient. With this procedure, the cells are collected directly from the pelvic bone. Most patients report some lower back soreness that lasts a few days after the donation, but nothing that should prevent you from your daily activities. However, you are cautioned against any heavy lifting or strenuous workout activities for the days following donation.
Other ways you can provide support
Make a monetary contribution now at www.dkmsamericas.org — Every dollar counts! DKMS needs your dollars to finance the $65 registration cost.
Organize a bone marrow donor drive in your community, at your office or school
Encourage eligible family members and friends to register with DKMS
Join DKMS on MySpace and Facebook, or follow DKMS on Twitter (search for DKMS Americas).
Help DKMS raise funds, for example by organizing a fundraiser, or visit Firstgiving.com now and create your own DKMS Americas fundraising page.