Participants needed for marrow-stem cell donor registry drive
"The Marrow-Stem Cell Donor Registry is an international database to help find a match for people like my dad. To get on the registry, all they do is swab the inside of your cheeks and you fill out a brief health questionaire. It is that simple." - Lori Holub Janak

A marrow-stem cell donor registry drive will take place Saturday, May 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Commercial State Bank's Gold Room in El Campo.

This is a follow-up drive to the Dwight Holub blood drive held April 5 and is a marrow/stem cell donor registry drive, not a blood drive.

"The Marrow-Stem Cell Donor Registry is an international database to help find a match for people like my dad," said Lori Holub Janak. "To get on the registry, all they do is swab the inside of your cheeks and you fill out a brief health questionaire. It is that simple."

The drive does not require you to committ to anything by signing up for the registry. However, if your profile matches someone else's in the database, you will be contacted.

"At that time you can decide to donate or not as there is absolutely no obligation," she said. "We all know that life and health circumstances can easily change in one's life."

Stem cells come from the blood and marrow comes from bone. Procedures for donation defer depending on the need of the potential recipient.

A person of any race, ethnicity or gender who is 18 to 60 (up until 61st birthday) years old and who meets donation health guidelines can become a volunteer potential marrow or blood stem cell donor.

According to the Marrow-Stem Cell Registry Office, there are only 6 million people in the database at this time. Statistically, a match is found in 1 out of every 300,000 people.

"So, it's very important for people like you and me to become part of the database and try to help someone in need," Janak said. "Please come by and encourage anyone you know to come by Saturday, May 3 to fill out the health questionnaire and have their cheeks swabbed. Again, it's quick, simple and painless."

If you have any questions, please call Janak at 979-848-8545. No appointments are necessary for this drive.

Dwight Holub, who has Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, could benefit from such a donation. According to Janak, her father is currently undergoing chemotherapy and is in need of a blood stem cell transplant.