Bone marrow registration drive aids Jews

Bone marrow registration drive aids Jews

A Jewish Pittsburgh resident is organizing a bone marrow registration drive for Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the North Hills.
While the drive is open to all, Deena Alansky says Jews face a greater challenge in finding a matching donor in the National Marrow Registry because the Holocaust substantially reduced the pool of compatible donors, necessitating more Jews to join to give hope to thousands seeking transplants
Alansky, lost her brother, Rand E. Alansky, to leukemia 10 years ago this month, after a compatible donor could not be found.
To honor her brother’s memory on the 10th anniversary of his passing, Deena has organized the registration drive from noon to 8 p.m. and the “Party for the Cure” fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. to benefit Delete Blood Cancer and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Both events will be held at the Fox & Hound, 2002 Northway Mall, McKnight Road.
Lisa Katz, mother of Amy Katz of “Amy’s Army” fame, is a volunteer at the registration drive.
Anyone in general good health between the ages of 18 and 55 can join the National Marrow Registry for free by filling out a form and swabbing their cheek at the marrow registration drive.
The fundraiser will include an appetizer buffet, four free hours of pool, raffle prizes and $2 draft beer.
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Deena Alansky at deena.alansky@gmail.com. Volunteers are needed on the day of the events to help at Fox & Hound, and to hand out flyers at shopping areas in the North Hills of Pittsburgh.
People who can’t attend the Marrow Registration Drive in person, but want to join the registry, can join for free online at deletebloodcancer.org. The cheek swab testing kit will be mailed to your home.
Alansky also is fundraising online on behalf of Delete Blood Cancer and has created a personal fundraising page. Donations are tax-deductible, and 100 percent of the money raised will pay for adding new donors to the National Marrow Registry.
Visit deenasfriends4acure.org for more information.

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