Church Holding Bone-Marrow Drive

A bone-marrow donor drive will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 S. Central Ave., in Little Tokyo from noon to 2 p.m. May 22.

With minorities accounting for only a small percentage of the national bone marrow donor pool, there is an urgent need for Asian, Latino, Native American and black donors, in particular.

Patients with blood disease are more likely to find matching bone marrow in their own ethnic group.

Tissue types, which are inherited and can be traced to specific geographic origins, must match perfectly for a successful lifesaving transplant, according to Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches, an organization founded two years ago to recruit more Asian donors.

Only a blood test is needed to be listed as a potential donor in the National Marrow Donor Program.

Information: (213) 626-3827.