Jasmina Anema Bone Marrow Drive
If you do not know about Jasmina Anema, be prepared to have your heart wrenched by her story. Jasmina is a 6 year old dying from a rare form of Leukemia. Doctors have stated she could die within 2 months unless she received a bone marrow transplant. Celebrities & everyday people have come together hoping to find a match for Jasmina.
The goal of coming together continues as The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) of New York is teaming up with the MTA to hold a bone marrow drive. Here are the complete details courtesy of a press release I received yesterday:
The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) New York is hosting a Bone Marrow Drive in honor of Jasmina Anema on Monday, April 27, 2009 at various MTA facilities and Subway Stations throughout New York City. COMTO – New York will be joined by Jasmina’s mother and other community leaders to help find a donor who could help save her life.
Jasmina Anema is a six year old Harlem girl recently diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia and has only months to live if a match is not found. Jasmina is adopted so it makes it even more difficult to find a match. Currently, Jasmina has been a patient at NYU Medical Center since she was diagnosed in January of 2009 unable to attend school and play with her friends.
All the potential bone marrow donors will be registered and tested with DKMS, the largest bone marrow donor center in the world. Any healthy donors between the ages 18 to 55 are welcome to participate.
“Little Jasmina has a tremendous battle for her life over the next few months, I feel that it is my obligation to help save her life as well as the lives of so many others who are unable to find a match. It is my understanding that minorities are the least represented as donors due to the lack of organized efforts in our communities,” said Dwayne C. Sampson, President of the COMTO – New York Chapter.
“I encourage everyone both inside and outside the MTA to support this bone marrow drive,” said Elliot G. Sander, Executive Director and CEO of the MTA. “You just might be able to save a life.”
“We are thrilled that COMTO is helping DKMS” said Katharina Harf, Executive Vice President of DKMS Americas. For more information about DKMS www.dkmsamericas.org.
DATE: Monday, April 27, 2009:
MTA NYC Transit Locations For MTA Employee Donations from 10:00AM -1:00PM:
2 Broadway (Manhattan); 130 Livingston Street (Brooklyn); Jamaica Bus Depot (Queens) East New York Bus Depot (Brooklyn) Amsterdam Bus Depot (Manhattan)MTA NYC Transit Locations For the General Public from 3:00PM – 6:00PM:
Parsons Archer Station E & J Lines, (Queens) East New York Station A, C, L, J Lines (Brooklyn), 148 Lenox Ave #3 Line (Manhattan).Press Conference at 11:00AM:
2 Broadway, MTA Headquarters, ManhattanCOMTO – New York is the premier advocacy and networking organization for minorities in the transportation industry. To pre-register or volunteer for this event please email bonemarrowdriveforJasmina@comto-ny.org and for more information visit www.comto-ny.org.
I urge all of my NYC & surrounding area readers to participate in this worthy cause if possible. I look forward to doing just that!
xoxo Transit Blogger
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I personally want to thank everyone involved for raising awareness to this cause and helping my daughter. You have no idea how much this means to us.
Theodora, Jasmina’s mom.