This is a special plea on behalf of 2 year-old twins Oscar and Alexander Chan, 18 year-old Chi Nguyen, 15 year-old Krupal Desai, 40 year-old Cheri Olman, 17 year-old Piya Vacharasanee, 11 year-old Van Young and countless other patients who are battling life-threatening leukemia. Their only hope for survival is a bone marrow transplant. Sadly, no one in their family is a match, so they must search for an unrelated marrow donor on the National Registry. Because these patients are of minority or mixed ethnicities, they have a difficult time finding a match. Since marrow types are passed on genetically, these patients will most likely find compatible marrow from someone who is of the same ethnic background.

You can help them in their fight for life by registering to be a potential marrow donor. If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, all it takes is your consent and a small sample of blood to get tested. If you come up as a match to any patient, and donate some of your marrow, you could make a
miracle happen!

UCLA APAMSA (Asian and Pacific Islander American Medical Student Association) in conjunction with Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M) will be holding a bone marrow donor recruitment drive on Wednesday April 10, 2002 and Thursday, April 11, 2002 from 11 am to 2 pm in the Center for Health Sciences Courtyard. Please show up to register and possibly save someone's life.

For more information, please email Hank at hswang@ucla.edu or James at jmkhu@ucla.edu or call A3M at 1-888-236-4673.

If you would like to volunteer during the drive, please contact Hank at hswang@ucla.edu