Chamber Young Professionals hosting bone marrow donor registry drive, partnering with Be The Match

July 8, 2022 | 12:11 am

Updated July 7, 2022 | 9:11 pm

Bone Marrow Registry

Chamber Young Professionals is partnering with Be The Match to host a bone marrow registry drive on July 22 downtown during Friday After 5. With a marrow transplant used as treatment of life-threatening blood disorders, the goal of the registry drive is to help more people, particularly minorities, on the registry find a match.

The registration will take place from 6-9 p.m. July 22 along the Owensboro riverfront. People are eligible to sign up if they are between the ages of 18 and 40 and willing to donate to any patient in need. At the drive, CYP will be helping people perform painless cheek swabs while filling out the appropriate information.

According to a release from CYP, “A marrow transplant is the only cure for blood cancers and also can be helpful for treatment of diseases like sickle cell. The more people on the registry the more likely people will be to find their perfect match. While white people have a 79% chance of finding a match, minorities have a much harder time; 48% for Hispanic and Latinos and only 29% for African Americans. Together we can help improve these odds.”

In the fall of 2019, Angela Woosley, the mother of CYP member Emmy Woosley, went to the hospital with what she suspected to be pneumonia. While the pneumonia diagnosis was correct, the biggest concerns were with her blood count numbers. 

Woosley was transferred to Vanderbilt Medical Center and ultimately diagnosed with Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia. After 79 days of inpatient chemotherapy and 5 months of outpatient chemotherapy, Woosley received a stem cell transplant from her sister. 

The initial transplant was deemed successful but a year and a half after the transplant a routine bone marrow biopsy revealed Woosley’s leukemia had returned. The Vanderbilt medical team began chemotherapy again and decided another stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor would be Woosley’s best chance at full remission. 

A major concern for Woosley and her family was whether a suitable stem cell donor could be found. One was identified and on Feb. 4, 2022, Woosley received her second stem cell transplant from an anonymous 28-year-old woman. 

Woosley and her family are encouraging others to participate in the Be the Match Registry so other patients, like Woosley can find their lifesaving donor.

About Chamber Young Professionals

CYP provides an opportunity for professionals 40 years and younger to network and educate themselves on important issues facing the Greater Owensboro area. With a membership of more than 100 for 5+ years, CYP focuses on community service projects, social events, corporate tours and professional development. CYP members develop strong ties in the Owensboro community. In partnership with The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, members become more involved throughout the community and serve as future leaders.

About Be The Match

For the thousands of people diagnosed every year with life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, a cure exists. Over the past 30 years Be The Match, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program, has managed the most diverse marrow registry in the world. Matching donors with recipients all across the nation, Be The Match saves lives every day. 

July 8, 2022 | 12:11 am

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