The Marcia Williams bone marrow drive comes to RFK Sunday 3/15

[Bootsy Collins]

I'm pretty sure this has been discussed here in the past, but briefly: Marcia Williams, the wife of long-time MLS player Andy Williams, is in very dire need of a bone marrow transplant. Many elements of the US soccer community have been making a strong effort to find potential bone marrow donors.

Today Steve Goff reports (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/03/for_a_good_cause.html) that there'll be an organized effort to find potential donors at RFK on Sunday, March 15 (nine days from today) from noon to 5pm. Eddie Pope plans to stop by during the first hour, and Ben Olsen will be by later. The initial screening apparently requires little more than a mouth swab.

[John L]

If you've already given blood samples and cheek swabs for other Bone Marrow transplant drives, then I presume you're in some sort of national registry - Right?

[Sundevil9]

Bootsy, thanks for reminding me. I just threw it up on the SE website.

[JoeSoccerFan]

Bootsy, thanks for reminding me. I just threw it up on the SE website.


Need to read slower (or drink slower), I read the following:

Bootsy, thanks for reminding me. I just threw up on the SE website.

[cykelFlicka]

Need to read slower (or drink slower), I read the following:
Bootsy, thanks for reminding me. I just threw up on the SE website.

ahahahahaha!

[Vasco]

If you've already given blood samples and cheek swabs for other Bone Marrow transplant drives, then I presume you're in some sort of national registry - Right?

you are correct there is a national bone marrow registry,and international as well.
I was entered into the database after my son passed away, before he could get his transplant.

by he time we found a donor it was to late, an international donor. you need make sure you keep your contact info up to date, we had several potential matches, that could not be contacted because of outdated contact information.

[John L]

I believe the Bone Marrow Drive will be from 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday, Mar 15

[Poqui Moqui]

We held a couple of bone marrow drives here in Utah but the likelihood of finding a match in very European Utah was pretty small. Still, we had large turnouts as soccer fans united to help one of ours in need. The test is just as others have said, you fill out your paperwork, rinse out your mouth, swab your cheeks and TADAA! That's it. But they emphasize to you to keep your info updated so that when you are needed, you can be found in time.

You guys are awesome for doing this for Marcia!

[realslfan]

As an RSL fan and someone who has followed this situation since last summer, I would encourage all of you to participate in this. It truly is just a cheek swab, and a minor inconvenience but the benefits to Marcia (or someone else) could be life saving.

[John L]

UPDATE ON TIME:

12 Noon to 5 pm

[Lowecifer]

Anybody get to RFK yesterday?

[Bootsy Collins]

Anybody get to RFK yesterday?

I went over fairly late, around 4:45pm or so, and so missed the DCU players. It was fairly light when I went -- during the time I was there, filling out my form and getting my cheek swabbed, maybe another five people went through.

One thing that was odd was that the volunteers didn't seem particularly prepared: "It says here that signing on this line means I've read Form X; what's Form X? I need to read it." "uh . . . . ." etc.

[onefineesq]

Anybody get to RFK yesterday? I went. I got there at around 12:15 or 12:20. At the moment that I parked and walked to the front door, Gomez and Moreno were walking out, right past me. I saw a few other players leaving when I got up to the bone marrow drive. It was fairly packed when I got there.

[Bootsy Collins]

I went. I got there at around 12:15 or 12:20. At the moment that I parked and walked to the front door, Gomez and Moreno were walking out, right past me. I saw a few other players leaving when I got up to the bone marrow drive. It was fairly packed when I got there.

Elsewhere I heard a total # of registrants of about 80, which is not so great, unfortunately. I have to say that despite posting about it here (even starting this thread), I forgot about it until late (which is why I went over late), and wouldn't have remembered even then if not reminded by an afternoon remidner on BtB.

[Pan-T Clause]

I went and Moreno and Gomez drove past me, Talked to McT on his way out, And Simms and Burch were getting on the elevator as I was coming off. (almost wrote getting off, would have read quite right.) It was packed whilst I was there. not an empty seat.

[KGDG2005]

I was able to be there until mid-afternoon, but Kat told me yesterday that the final figure was 104.

It is too bad that it was such lousy weather, for that may have kept some folks from coming out. A shame really because the process is so darn simple.

It was encouraging to learn from the folks out from Salt Lake that they were able to find a match for a 16 year-old girl from the drives they have done in Utah.

The BTB crew showed up when the team rolled in and have posted a video from some of the interviews they did at the event.

http://www.behindthebadge.com/2009/03/video-bone-marrow-drive.php

KGDG
Come On United (States and DC)
www.screaming-eagles.com
Swabbing for Life