Marrow-Thons Help Save Lives
Victor Thomas is 4 years old and has leukemia. But the biggest obstacle for the Kansas City child is his race.
Victor needs a bone marrow transplant. But because members of the same ethnic group generally share more of the genes that determine tissue type and because so few people of color are listed in the nation’s bone marrow registry, his chances of finding a match are one in thousands. African-Americans have received only 20 of 1,400 bone marrow transplants since 1987.
Now, however, Share Life Marrow-Thons have recruited thousands of people of color into the registry. And a donor has been found for Victor. Share Life officials say he will undergo a transplant this month at UCLA.
Meanwhile, a Share Life Marrow-Thon is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, from noon to 2 p.m., at Jack’s Health & Fitness Center, 5364 Wilshire Blvd.; UCLA Medical Center cafeteria, Westwood Boulevard and LeConte Avenue; Watts Health Center, 10300 S. Compton. Health officials will answer questions and take small blood samples. Volunteers will receive information on how to prevent cancer and a Share Life Marrow-Thon T-shirt.
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