Blood drive, marrow registration set

In conjunction with the Light The Night Walk, the Blood Bank of Alaska and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are teaming up together to help cancer patients. From 3-8 p.m. the night of the walk, the Blood Bank will be on-site accepting blood donations as well as registering people for the Kathleen Walker-Williams and the Logan J. Marre Memorial Bone Marrow Drive.

"The Light The Night Walk is being formed to honor those who are cancer survivors and to remember those who lost their lives to cancer. [The blood drive] goes hand in hand because so many people being treated need blood transfusions," said Kelly Marre, organizer of the event.

For those who donate blood, technicians will also take an additional small vial of blood for a marrow sample. This painless procedure will be offered at no charge to all donors. The usual cost to register a person on the bone marrow registry is $65, however, during the Light the Night event the Blood Bank of Alaska will be covering all costs. Any grants or donations to go toward future bone marrow drives, however, will be accepted.

Marre described the importance of the bone marrow registration to cancer patients.

"Many cancer patients have to undergo a bone marrow transplant but are unable to find a donor who matches the minimum of five out of the six antigens," Marre said, adding that African American and Native American donors are especially hard to find. The Blood Bank welcomes all donors regardless of race.

"It will be a total night of honoring those who have survived and also those who needed [a transplant] and could not find one," Marre said. "Somebody is always going to need blood … not just cancer patients but those in accidents, too. We have a responsibility to help those in need."

Marre said giving blood is a way friends or family members can help when a loved one is ill. "People feel so helpless when someone they know and love needs help and they don't know how. They can donate blood. It's a way to give support, and sometimes that's all you can do."

The Blood Bank will be able to take six to eight blood donors each hour at the event, so registration in advance is recommended, but they will not turn anyone away who wishes to donate, and, if necessary, will extend the hours.

To register for the blood drive or the bone marrow registry, call Marre at 373-1528.