Help Plainfield 15-Year-Old Find Life-Saving Donor

PLAINFIELD, IL — A Plainfield 15-year-old in the fight of her life is looking for her perfect match. Olivia Gardner, who attends Plainfield North High School, is battling severe aplastic anemia — a potentially fatal disease — and her only hope for a cure is a blood stem cell transplant. In June, her family will host an event with some help from Be The Match to help find Olivia a donor.

The June 2 event is slated for 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th St., in Merrionette Park. In addition to food, drinks and live music from Maggie Speaks and a DJ, guests will be able to register with Be The Match to find out if they are a potential donor for Olivia.

The more people register, the better chance the 15-year-old has at getting her transplant.

Representatives from Be the Match, a global leader in bone marrow transplantation, will be on site to register donors at the event and online. If you're between the age of 18 and 44, you're eligible to sign up and be entered into a "special" raffle.

Everyone who registers will receive a cheek swab kit in the mail in about a week. Registrants will simply mail back their completed swab kit and will be notified if they are a match. Even if you're not a match for Olivia, you could be a match for someone else in need of a life-saving transplant. Registrants are asked to be ready if they're contacted about a potential match.

The June 2 event will include a buffet dinner, draft beer, wine, soda, snacks and desserts. In addition to raffles, there will be a silent auction and split-the-pot opportunities.

Admission is $35 for adults, $20 for those ages 5 to 20, $30 for seniors age 65 and older and free for guests under age 5. Buy your tickets online and save $5.

Find more information on the Olivia Strong website.