Mother Battling Cancer Inspires More Drives For Bone Marrow

Bone marrow transplants help treat a number of serious diseases from sickle cell anemia to Hodgkin's lymphoma but donors are in high demand especially among African Americans.

Race is important when considering bone marrow donations because it can mean you're more likely a match.

So some woman in Pine Bluff are making sure they get the word out.

"We're gonna do it and do it here," said Damaris Mims.

Who was inspired by the story of a young mother battling leukemia and at the same time highlighting the need for more bone marrow donations that aired in early June.

"I saw the news story on channel 4 one morning about Leslie Harris," said Mims. "And I was inspired to do that.."

So she contacted the people in charge of that drive, but it was too late.

So instead she decided to plan her own drive in Pine Bluff and she recruited her best friend Tracy Shavers for help and learned something about her friend along the way.

"I have been a bone marrow recipient myself," said Shavers.

25 years ago Shavers was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

She survived because of a bone marrow transplant and was never able to thank her donor.

"But I'm very grateful that the donor took that time, ten minutes or less to fill out paperwork," said Shavers. "Get swabbed to help me live another 25 years."

And it's extremly simple once you fill out the paper work you just take one of these swabs, act like you're brushing your teeth but if that's too invasive you can even just leave a donation.

"We really didn't understand about the bone marrow at first until it hit home," said Fredrick Thomas.

His 23-year-old daughter suffers from a rare blood disease and is waiting for a bone marrow donor match.

"If everybody came out to contribute with the bone marrow," Thomas said. "You can save so many lives."

"It's more likely someone of your same race to be a match for you," said Shavers.

Only 7% of African americans are signed up as donors, a statistic these woman are hoping to change.

"This will not be our only drive," said Mims. "We're going to do more."

If you would like information on donating visit: Be The Match