If you know anyone in England or have friends who do, regardless of background, please let them know about this registration drive occurring on Saturday. It only takes a small blood sample in the UK, and actual donation should you ever match someone is neither risky nor dangerous. Over 70% of people need to rely on a stranger likely of the same or similar ethnicity.

REGISTRATION DRIVE

Saturday, October 18, 2008
11:00am - 4:30pm
Barclays Bank
126 Station Road HA8 7RY
London, United Kingdom

Facebook event (with directions)

It doesn't take much time to register and requires a teaspoon of blood. That's it. If you match, you will be guided every step of the way. The ACLT's current campaign is Heroes Wanted. You don't have to run into a burning building or have superpowers to be a hero. Just a willingness to help.

ABOUT THE AFRICAN CARIBBEAN LEUKEMIA TRUST

In early March, I learned about a young man named Daniel De-Gale and an organization named the African Caribbean Leukemia Trust.

I found them on Facebook and Youtube. I was immediately gripped by the dire numbers of available Caribbean donors in the UK, and amazed that a small group of volunteers worked hard to raise the number from 550 potential donors to 25000 in a little over a decade.

The ACLT has been instrumental in getting the word out about the issue, and also posted Emru's appeal. Since our first contact, Daniel's mother Beverley has been a huge support, and has followed Emru's story every step of the way, as well as being a part of it. They have posted the appeal of other people I have mentioned before: Carolyn Tam, Angela Christopher, Yvette Gate, the late Helen Ross, and Graham Barnell.


ABOUT DANIEL DE-GALE

The ACLT began because Daniel fell ill as a boy and needed a bone marrow transplant. His family found out there were not enough people registered and sprang into action. They have not stopped since.

A willing donor was found in the US and saved Daniel's life. Check out this video of Daniel meeting his donor, Doreene.

His parents formed the ACLT and encouraged that amazing number of potential donors even though more are needed and have facilitated 20 matches for ethnic minority recipients, including people of mixed ethnic descent, who are even less likely to find a match.

Last week, young Daniel passed away at age 21, due to reasons not related to the cancer. Just days before he had given a speech asking people to continue signing up as potential donors.

When I did not know what to do, and was losing hope, Daniel wrote me and got me in touch with his mom. He told me that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and to stay the course. I never got to thank him in person for this.


WHAT WE CAN DO

Please learn more about the ACLT. And if what you learn moves you to act, consider doing one or more of these things:

- If you would like to offer condolences or just help out the charity, donate in Daniel's name, as per the family's request. If you are in the UK, you can even donate 3 pounds via text message.

- Check out the ACLT website http://www.aclt.org or the YouTube channel acltcharity.

-Tell someone why it is worth it to learn about donation and to tell others.

As always, thank you for caring!

Labels: #blck, ACLT, blck, blogs, bone marrow donor clinic, donor stories, minority donors

The Notting Hill carnival in the UK is one of the largest Caribbean carnivals in the world and Europe's largest street festival. The African Caribbean Leukemia Trust is the official charity for the second year in a row. Through their tireless efforts, they have assisted in over a dozen stem cell donor matches, and have increased the number of potential donors who fit this profile in the UK from 550 to 25000 people in a little over a decade.

On Sunday 24th and Monday 25th August more than 1.5 million revellers are expected to watch the thousands of artists perform. Additionally they will all have the opportunity to take 30 minutes to register as potential life savers at the ACLT registration drive, by completing an application form to join the British Bone Marrow Registry which is administered by the National Blood Service (NBS).

Check out ITV Local’s Notting Hill Carnival Channel 2008 (Official Online Media Partners to the Notting Hill Carnival) http://info.itvlocal.com/acltmain.shtml

Seven-year-old Dean Sheikh and his family will be present at the clinics encourage people to sign up. His family are Pakistani and they are hoping more South Asian donors will come forward.

The ACLT helped to spread the word of Emru's need for a donor, and I can personally attest to the determination and commitment of this charity.

Labels: #blck, ACLT, blck, bone marrow donor clinic, London, minority donors, Notting Hill, personal appeal, UK

I haven't tweaked the menu or the sidebar yet, but I wanted to let people know that we're still listing upcoming bone marrow drives and other events (charity races, art exhibitions, fundraisers, etc.). For the sake of clarity and ease of use I've moved everything to a Google calendar, which you'll find on our Events page.

Our list of events currently includes things going on in the US, UK and New Zealand up until September 21, with new items from around the world entered every day as we find out about them. Check in regularly and often.

Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives

From Pakistan Daily:

A Hounslow woman is facing a race against time to find a bone marrow donor from the Asian community that will save the life of her leukaemia-stricken niece.

Determined Monica Grewal, 37, has made an emotional plea for people to come forward and help six-year-old Rianna Deol get her desperately-needed transplant.

But because individual genetic make-up is so varied, her best chance of a match is from someone of the same ethnic background - and only 4 per cent of donors on the Anthony Nolan Trust's bone marrow register are Asian.

Mrs Grewal has urgently called for potential donors to join the register at a special clinic between midday and 4pm tomorrow (Sunday) at Saks Hair and Beauty Salon at the David Lloyd Club, Southall Lane, Hounslow.

Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, UK

From the Main Street News:

As Booth receives what may be a life-saving transplant of bone marrow Thursday, July 3, they’ll be holding a blood drive in his honor at New Hope Baptist Church.
The American Red Cross blood drive, set from 2:00 p.m. to 8 p.m., has two purposes. One is to honor Booth while helping the Red Cross meet its blood needs. The other is to raise awareness of the National Bone Marrow Registry that helped Booth find a donor.

“They will just test people with a mouth swab and see if they’re interested in donating bone marrow,” said Stowers, who added that there is no charge for the screening.

“We hope to have at least 50 people,” said Stowers. “Of that, I would expect 35 to be able to donate. I’d like to shoot for a hundred. You don’t have to be able to donate blood to be a bone marrow donor, and people could make a donation to the Red Cross or sign up for the bone marrow registry.”

New Hope Baptist Church is located at 211 Stapler Drive, at the corner of U.S. 441 and Old Kings Bridge Road a mile south of Benton Elementary School.

Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, Georgia, US

I got this a little late. From the Press-Telegram:

[Krissy] Kobata's rare condition is compounded by the lack of a bone-marrow match, which doctors say is now an urgent need. Kobata's family is of mixed heritage - Japanese and Caucasian - which has made it more difficult for her to find a donor match. Kobata's brother, her only sibling, is not a match.

Kobata's family and the Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches, an affiliate of the National Marrow Donor Program, have arranged for bone-marrow drives in Los Angeles County, including Long Beach.

The only drive that hasn't passed a yet is this one:

Southeast Japanese School and Cultural Center, 14615 Gridley Road, Norwalk; July 26, 3 to 8 p.m., and July 27, 2to 6 p.m.

Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, California, US

Today's bone marrow clinic in Huddersfield, UK was deemed a success by organizers attracting 53 people. This is the first clinic inspired directly from the challenge of Adrian "Sudders" Sudbury to educate people about bone marrow registration and donations in the short time he has left to live, after being treated unsuccessfully for two different types of leukemia (he is the only known person to have two forms simultaneously).

Two more drives will be occurring in July.

If you live in the UK or are an ex-pat, you may also be interested in signing the official 10 Downing Street e-petition before July 23, 2008 to fulfill Adrian's wish to see the basics of bone marrow donation and registration taught to teenagers in school as part of the curriculum. Please sign it only if you are from the United Kingdom.

Sign the petition

Labels: Adrian Sudbury, Anthony Nolan Trust, bone marrow donor clinic, Huddersfield, UK

There's a bone marrow drive on Saturday in Brooklyn. An African-American congregation is holding a bone marrow drive. The church is an important element in African-American culture, and was the hotbed of the Civil Rights movement, among other great revolutions of thought. The tradition continues.

Powerful Praise Tabernacle
708-710 Myrtle Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 422-1170

Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, minority donors, New York

From hapihour.org:

WHAT: In-n-Out: The Drive to Increase Asian American Registered Bone Marrow Donors

WHEN: Saturday | June 14, 2008 | 10 am - 3 pm

WHERE: Chinese for Affirmative Action, Community Room
The Kuo Building
17 Walter U. Lum Place
San Francisco, CA 94108
COST: Free

To RSVP and to show your support, please visit our Facebook Event and/or our Evite.

Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, California, minority donors, US

From the Ledger:

In order for Liam to be cured, he needs a bone marrow transplant.

To find a match for him, Mulberry United Methodist Church will be having a blood drive/bone marrow screening from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, Florida, US

From the Connecticut Post:

To aid Lemos — and others in need of a transplant — the Vasco da Gama Portuguese Cultural & Civic Center, 355 James St., Bridgeport will host a bone marrow donor registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, Connecticut, US

Two more Project Michelle marrow drives, courtesy of Peachies.net:

ABC Supermarket
Sat, May 31, 10am – 4pm
6970 Bolsa Ave., Westminster, CA 92683

Cerritos Farmer’s Market, Cerritos Town Center
Sat, May 31, 8am – 12pm
Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos, CA 90703

Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, California, US

From The Maykazine:

Project Michelle
Bone Marrow Registration Drive

Saturday May 31, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Club Sport Fremont
46650 Landing Parkway
Fremont, California 94538

Labels: bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, California, US

Three clinics in the UK, courtesy of the ACLT (African Carribean Leukemia Trust). Don't let the name fool you—while the ACLT wants more minorities to register, they will happily register anyone who shows up. Times and places:

Saturday 14th June 2008

12.00 noon -5pm
Lewisham Fire station
249 Lewisham High Street
London
SE13 6NH

Sunday 6th July 2008

12.00 noon -5pm
Britannia Hotel Nottingham
St James St
Nottingham
NG1 6VN

Sunday 13th July 2008

5pm-9pm
School of Oriental and African Studies
University of London
Thornhaugh St
Russell Square
London
WC1H 0XG

Labels: #blck, ACLT, blck, bone marrow donor clinic, bone marrow drives, UK