Event brings together Virginia marrow donors and transplant patients, highlights the need for unrelated marrow transplants
Ron Dews, a Richmond local and father to two rambunctious boys with sickle cell, originally joined the Be The Match Registry in 2000 hoping to be a match for his mom who was battling leukemia. Though he wasn’t a match for his mom, he knew a marrow transplant could have saved her life, so when Ron had the opportunity to donate his marrow in 2004 he was overjoyed. He was a perfect match for a 15-year-old in Texas named Kiki who has regained her health and is thriving since the transplant.
As someone who has seen both sides, patient and donor, Ron understands the importance of adding names to the Registry. And, Ron and his wife, Tiffany, are well aware that someday a bone marrow transplant may be the only treatment for their sons. So, both are tireless advocates within the Richmond community working to add potential donors to the Registry.
Along with hundreds of Richmond residents, Ron will participate in the Richmond Be The Match Walk+Run on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at Brown’s Island. The event brings together marrow donors and transplant patients to demonstrate that the cure for blood cancer is in the hands of ordinary people.
Every year, more than 12,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with blood cancers like leukemia for which a marrow transplant from an unrelated donor may be their best or only hope of a cure. Most patients won’t have a marrow match in their family and Be The Match recruits and matches volunteer marrow donors with patients who need them.
Be The Match Walk+Run raises funds to support marrow transplant research, help patients with uninsured treatment costs, and add more volunteer potential marrow donors to Be The Match Registry, giving more patients hope for a cure.
With a 5K, 1K and Tot Trot, the Walk+Run is perfect for the entire family and for people of all fitness levels. Join a community transplanting hope. Help patients with blood cancers take the next step toward a life-saving marrow transplant by taking a few steps of your own. Visit BeTheMatchWalkRun.org to register, fundraise or volunteer.
