Spare a Cheek? Fund-Raising for Bone Marrow

On Saturday, February 11, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., we will be having a Spin-A-Thon and cheek swabbing event at the to raise donations to help find a bone marrow match for my niece Nora.

My sister’s daughter, Nora is a beautiful 6-year-old girl. Like most 6-year-olds she loves to play make believe, ride her bike and make crafts. Nora was a healthy and happy little girl until this past June when she was diagnosed with a very rare disease called Severe Aplastic Anemia — a disease of the bone marrow with no known cause. Nora has endured eight months of hospital stays and visits. Nora’s best chance for remission is a bone marrow transplant.

Through the generosity of the Wilton Family YMCA, we will be hosting a Spin-A-Thon to raise donations for Be the Match^® in hopes of finding Nora a viable donor. The donations raised will be used to add more members to the registry. 

All are welcome to join the Spin-A-Thon on Saturday, February 11^th from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Wilton Family YMCA.  We are asking a donation of $30 per every half-hour you ride. You can sign up individually or as a team.  To register please visit www.wiltonymca.org (go to programs/browse/Spin-A-Thon).

If you or you know someone between the ages of 18 and 44, please come and have your cheek swabbed.We will have a representative from Be-the-Match in the YMCA lobby. It is easy to test for a marrow match; it’s just a swab of the mouth with a Q-Tip.  

If you are unable to attend please order a swab kit or donate online at Bethematchfoundation.org/goto/ymcaspin4nora. Please feel free to contact our Be The Match representative, Tracy Julian at 800.676.4545 ext. 7050 or tjulian@nmdp.org if you have any questions.

We appreciate your support.

Rachael Dineen

The National Marrow Donor Program^® (which operates Be The Match^®) and Be The Match Foundation are both qualified organizations recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Gifts made are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.