Be The Match, Donate Bone Marrow, Save a Life

MINNEAPOLIS - In April, Be the Match is launching a major awareness campaign about the need for bone marrow donors.

Every year more than 10,000 Americans are diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma and their best or only hope for a cure is a transplant from an unrelated donor.

Betsy Lucas was diagnosed with leukemia about five years ago. She developed a rash on her leg that quickly spread, and was told she had three months to live unless she received a bone marrow transplant.

Her husband and two daughters watched as Betsy fought for her life, waiting for a donor. Her sister wasn't a match and finally a 19-year-old man from Germany had joined the Be the Match bone marrow registry and donated her life-saving bone marrow.

Betsy and her husband met donor Tobias Huffman two years later and even went to his wedding.

"For me, at the time I was 34-years-old, and to learn that a 19-year-old man from Germany was willing to reach out his hand and essentially give me life," Lucas said.

Now Betsy volunteers to raise awareness about the importance of marrow and cord blood transplants. The National Marrow Donor program is headquartered in Minneapolis. If you're interested in joining the Be the Match registry or attending the sign up events in the metro this month, check out bethematch.org for details.