Dear Friends,

Last year, in conjunction with the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, I sponsored a bone marrow drive at the Capitol. Later this fall I plan on doing the same.

I first became involved with this cause when one of my dear friends, Bertha Wilson, was diagnosed with a life-threatening blood disease that can only be cured with a bone marrow transplant. I was shocked at the small percentage of African Americans on the registry. Out of the five million potential donors on the national registry, only 380,000 (7.8%) are listed as African Americans. The need for minorities to donate bone marrow is in high demand because patients are most likely to find a compatible donor within their own ethnic group.

Each year, more than 30,000 children and adults in the United States are diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses, many of which are treatable with bone marrow or blood stem-cell transplants. I strongly encourage everyone, but especially African Americans, to donate a sample of blood and be listed on the National Bone Marrow Registry - all it takes is a quick finger poke.

For more information on how to be a bone marrow donor please contact the National Bone Marrow Program at 517-337-2980 or visit http://www.marrow.org.

Together we can save a Life!

State Senator