Bone marrow drive for Southern Regional grad March 8

Southern Regional high schoolers in Manahawkin flock to the aid of an alumna as she struggles against leukemia - and, if you're a marrow match, maybe you'll be helping too.

Rachel Russell, Class of 2007, stands her best chance of sending the cancer into remission if she can obtain a bone marrow transplant. Southern Regional ROTC students hope that their March 8 donor drive will produce the right type.

The students have enlisted the Be The Match Foundation to conduct the registry drive, 8 AM until 12 Noon in the 11/12 building library on the main campus off Route 9..

A simple swab of the inner cheek determines if you're a match for Rachel, or perhaps for another leukemia patient in need of a marrow transplant. People between ages 18 and 44 are eligible.

Not eligible, but still want to pitch in? Contributions help cover the $100 cost to process each sample and add it to the bone marrow registry.

Donations of any size can be entered through the Be The Match Foundation web page. Or, commit to a quick $10 contribution by texting MATCH 403 to 50555.

Lieutenant Colonel William Spence and Betty Kelly can answer questions. Reach the Colonel at wspence@srds.net. Betty can be reached at bkelly@nmdp.org or 877-601-1926, ext. 7722.