Dear Friends and Family,

In preparation for my bar mitzvah, I have been learning about a special organization called the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation.  The Gift of Life is a leading bone marrow, blood stem cell, and umbilical cord blood registry that finds matching donors for patients suffering from leukemia, lymphoma, other cancers and genetic disorders.  Every year thousands of patients are diagnosed with illnesses that require stem cell or bone marrow transplants.  Only about a third of the population has a sibling donor available for transplant, while the rest must rely on a complete stranger to save their life.  My mitzvah project was inspired by our close family friend and an amazing woman, Patricia Weitsman.  She found her miracle match through Gift of Life and underwent a successful transplant in May 2011.  Patty is the true definition of a fighter--and now survivor!  You can read Patty's story here: bit.ly/XSSNOZ

For my mitzvah project, I am coordinating a donor recruitment drive with Gift of Life to add more donors to the bone marrow registry in the hopes of finding matches for patients in need of a transplant to survive.  The drive will be held at Temple Emanu El of Marblehead during their Mitzvah Day on May 5, 2013 from 9am-12pm.  Joining the registry during this drive is really quite simple.  The test is fast and easy, requiring just a swab of cells from the inside of your cheek.  Eligible donors must be in general good health and between the ages of 18-60.  This cheek swab could possibly save a life someday!  I can’t think of a more meaningful way to celebrate my special day!

You may be a miracle match for someone in urgent need of a stem cell or bone marrow transplant to survive.  Please join my Donor Circle and stand with me in support of Gift of Life and all of the patients they serve worldwide.  The more donors who sign up to join the registry, the better chance of finding a match for patients who are waiting for their life-saving transplants.  In order to find that miracle match, it costs $60 to process every single kit that goes to the lab.  Making a financial contribution of any amount to my Donor Circle will help to pay for the swab kits to be processed at the lab.

Thank you so much for helping me support Gift of Life's mission to save lives.  I look forward to seeing you soon!

Love,

Korey