Last year they registered nearly 400 potential bone marrow donors, and from that group there were five potential matches, better than the odds. This year, they hope even more people will stop at their booth for a quick swab of the cheek to register for the National Bone Marrow Registry.
Registering as many potential bone marrow donors as possible is an important mission for the Graci family, “Because we knew what it was like to wait for a donor and find a match. Without the donors, there is no cure,” says Rita Graci, who is embarking on the second year of her bone marrow registry drive at the Feast of Saint Rocco, from August 14-16.
“If your loved one, your child, your husband, your brother – if your loved one is sitting there waiting for a cure, you’re hoping to God that they’re going to find a match, and the donor is willing to donate.”
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Feast of St Rocco Festival - Aug 13, 14, 15, 16
The Feast of Saint Rocco will take place in the parking lot of the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School in Franklin from August 13-16, but the Graci’s and their volunteers will be manning the booth from the 14-16, on Friday, from 6-10 p.m., Saturday, 12-10 p.m. and Sunday 12-9 p.m.
Can’t make it to the booth? If you would like to find out more about signing up on the registry as a bone marrow donor, you can visit www.deletebloodcancer.org, email info@deletebloodcancer.org or call (212) 209-6779.
If you would like to sign up in Kristin Graci’s name, as part of the Feast of St. Rocco blood drive, ask for a kit, and when you submit it, enter GMF002 as the drive number on the registration form.
You can find the full article online here
http://www.franklintownnews.com/content/making-difference-deleting-blood-cancer
You can find the St Rocco Festival schedule here http://www.stmarysfranklin.org/93
