Every year almost 140,000 men, women, and children in the United States are diagnosed with some form of blood cancer and more than 10,000 people could benefit from a bone marrow transplant. Two of these people are members of the University of Pittsburgh community and on February 23 and 24, 2010 we are hosting a bone marrow drive with DKMS, the world's largest bone marrow center, in their honor.

Seun Adebiyi (PITT '06) is 26-years-old and a recent graduate of the Yale Law School. He is trying to make history as the first Nigerian delegate to compete in the Winter Olympics, where he would compete in the sport of skeleton. In June 2009, Seun was diagnosed with two rare and aggressive forms of cancer: lymphoblastic lymphoma and stem-cell leukemia. Most likely, Seun's only chance for survival is a bone marrow transplant, but he is facing grim odds. African-Americans comprise only 8% of the registry, and receive transplants in the US only 17% of the time.

A member of the Pittsburgh community, 16-year-old Amy Katz, is fighting leukemia. In 2003, Amy was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). CML is a type of leukemia that is rare for someone her age. The only known cure for her cancer is a stem cell transplant. Her doctors have searched the worldwide registry for a stem cell donor and have failed to find a match, but the search continues.

The students who register at the UPITT bone marrow donor drive may be the ONE match able to save the life of Seun, Amy, or so many other patients just like them.

DKMS is a tax exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Since DKMS does not receive government funding, we are solely dependent on donations from individuals, corporations, and private foundations to support our lifesaving work. DKMS will use 100% of your donation to help finance the $65 cost to register each new bone marrow donor and add them to the national registry.

Our goal is to raise $65,000, the amount it will cost to register 1,000 donors, in our efforts to help Seun, Amy, and others. No amount is too small; every dollar counts! Please consider donating $2 or more today to support our lifesaving work.

Visit www.dkmsamericas.org for more information.