Police often try to match a crime with a suspect. This time, they are trying to match a patient with a donor.
In response to an illness to an officer’s family member, the Department is partnering with the Be The Match Foundation to host a bone marrow registry event.
The paramount goal of the event is to find a donor that is a suitable match for a life-saving bone marrow transplant for the ill member of the Department family. Fundraising is also important – as is the opportunity to add many names and tissue to the national database in hopes of finding possible donors for the many thousands of patients around the country desperate for a second chance at life.
Participants will join the database by filling out a form and having their cheek swabbed. If one day they are called to donate marrow and save a life the donor would usually need only to submit to a process much like giving blood to provide the marrow.
The event is from 3 to 6 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, May 19, at the Richmond Police Department Training Academy, 1202 W. Graham Road.
The general public and the media are welcome to attend.
Additional information is available at: www.bethematchfoundation.org/goto/TeamJDRoss
