Whiteman to hold bone marrow donation drive Published Oct. 20, 2009 By Lisa Pyburn 509th Medical Operations Squadron WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Team Whiteman will hold its first Department of Defense - sponsored bone marrow drive Nov. 6, from 3 to 6 p.m., and Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be two donation locations: the Whiteman Base Exchange, as well as the Community Activity Center. Donor registration is scheduled for Nov. 5 and 6 at the clinic from 1 to 4 p.m. Those interested may also register through their unit point of contact if they cannot make it to any of the scheduled registration drives. Registering to become a donor is simple and painless. Donors need to simply fill out two pages of paperwork, and then four Q-tips will be swabbed inside their mouth. Eligible DoD. ID cardholders between the ages of 18-60 can register. The DoD Marrow Donor Program adds more people to the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry than any other organization. According to the DoD, in 2007 more than 400 DoD personnel were donors. Only 25 percent of patients needing a transplant find a match within their family, so screening and registering as many people as possible into the National Bone Marrow Registry is vital. More than 30,000 people nationwide need a bone marrow transplant, including 500 affiliated with the DoD. Every 10 minutes, someone dies from a blood cancer. This statistic represents nearly 146 people each day or more than six people every hour. Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20 (Facts and statistics from Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma Facts 2009-2010, June 2009.) "The established spirit of volunteerism among members of the Armed Forces is the main reason why the military is the nation's largest source of whole blood and marrow donations, and the need for these donations is tremendous," said 1st Lt. George Diaz, 509th Medical Operations Squadron. Those interested can register even if they have: · Been turned down to be a blood donor · Lived in the United Kingdom, Africa or Iraq · Had a recent tattoo · Received anti-malaria medication · Received an anthrax vaccination · Are a pilot or member of a flight crew The DoD pays all expenses and a person only has to register once. Their confidential information will be entered into the national registry. If they are contacted as a potential match, they are under no obligation to be a donor. It is completely voluntary. Registering as a marrow donor will enable people to give the most precious gift of all to someone and their family - the gift of life. If people would like more information or would like to volunteer, contact the Team Whiteman program organizers: 1st Lt. George Diaz at 660-687-2141/2163 or Lisa Pyburn at 660-864-4800.