Scheduled for Sunday, January 25
A bone marrow drive will be held Sunday, January 25, from 12-2 p.m. for Marcia Williams, who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in July 2008. The drive will be held at the Grace Community Bible Church, 11592 South 1300 East, Sandy. There is an open invitation to attend services at the church beginning at 11 a.m.Originally from Jamaica, Marcia is an African-American, which makes it more difficult for her to find a match, since there is not a large base of African-American donors on the registry. While it is possible for her to find a match outside her ethnic group, the chance is much greater within her own ethnicity. With the diverse population of the Genesis Group, there may be a match for Marcia among Genesis members. All the test requires is a simple swab from inside your mouth.
Read a poignant letter by Marcia, describing her faith and her desire for a transplant.
Marcia's husband, Andy Williams, plays soccer for Real Salt Lake, which organized a bone marrow drive in December; that drive was unsuccessful in finding a match for Marcia. The team has also established a web site to help with medical expenses and bone marrow donation. The site features information about Marcia and her family as well as links to sites that describe other ways to donate if you can't attend the drive on January 25.For more information on becoming a donor and what the donation process involves, click here.