800 Turn Out Hoping to Help Ducks’ Holan

Prompted by the plight of Mighty Ducks’ defenseman Milos Holan, who has been diagnosed with a slow-progressing form of leukemia, about 800 people turned out in the city of Orange Saturday to be tested as potential bone-marrow donors for Holan and other patients needing transplants.

“It’s great,” said the 24-year-old Holan, continuing to play for the Ducks while doctors search for a marrow match. “I’m very happy and I want to thank everybody very much for coming.”

Those tested on Saturday will be added to the National Marrow Donor Registry, a computerized bank of more than 1.8 million volunteers.

There was no shortage of people telling Holan they hoped they would be his match.

“About 300,” he said, smiling. Just one will do.

Among the people drawn to the testing site were several who know exactly what Holan is going through.

“I talked to one who is waiting and two who have already had transplants,” he said. “That’s great. I can see them and see that they have a smile on their face.”