From the U-M Health System Headlines: Every year, more than 10,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases such as leukemia or lymphoma, and their best or only hope of a cure is a transplant from an unrelated bone marrow donor. These patients depend on a national bone marrow registry called Be The Match Registry to find a match to save their life.

Bone marrow matches are more likely from within the patient’s own race or ethnicity. Due to a severe lack of donors, the chances of a South Asian to find bone marrow is 1 in 20,000 (compared with 8 in 10 for Caucasians).

To join the registry, South Asians need to be between the ages of 18 and 60, willing to donate to any patient in need, and in overall good health. The registration process is quick and painless: a cheek swab and a few, simple forms. If you are matched with someone in need, there is no cost to you for hospital expenses.

Please consider registering at our table near the scheduled UMHS Flu Shot Clinic in Towsley. You could save a life!

You can register between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on September 26.