Region – The South Asian Marrow Association of Recruiters (SAMAR) will be holding a bone marrow drive at the India Center, 152 Main St., Shrewsbury, Sunday, March 1, from 1-4 p.m.
The drive is being held to seek a donor for Vinoo, a Westborough resident, who is in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant. Although he specifically requires a donor of South Asian descent, all others are welcome and encouraged to attend the event.
Vinoo, 40, was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph system in 2014. He is married and is a father of three young girls. To fight this cancer, his only hope is to undergo a marrow/blood stem cell transplant from a matching donor. Unfortunately none of his family members are a match.
South Asians are significantly underrepresented in the National Bone Marrow Registry – only 1.9 percent of the registry is from that region – so finding a donor is extremely difficult.
Participation in the registry is very easy. All that is required is that you be between the ages of 18-44 years old and in good health. The process itself is a simple, painless cheek swab.
For those who are matches, cells may be donated by peripheral blood stem cell donation or marrow harvesting.
There is no cost for those attending the event; SAMAR will cover all costs. For more information on the drive contact [email protected]. For more information on SAMAR visit samarinfo.org.
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