After watching his father battle and survive leukemia, 16-year-old Corey Rhudy knew exactly what he wanted to do for his Eagle Scout project. For the past few months, Corey has been working diligently with Blood Assurance’s Bone Marrow and Donor Recruitment Departments to host a bone marrow and blood drive at the First United Methodist Church of LaFayette on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In 1999, Corey’s dad, Darrell Rhudy, who at the time was a six gallon Blood Assurance blood donor, was told that he could not donate blood because his hemoglobin was low. He didn’t think much of it the first time. However, after the second time he went to his doctor and after several tests he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), also known as pre-leukemia.

The disease eventually developed into acute myelogenous leukemia or AML. Mr. Rhudy received doses of chemotherapy and radiation to help his body prepare itself for a stem cell transplant. He also received numerous blood transfusions that helped to boost his blood counts. And on Feb. 11, 2003, Mr. Rhudy underwent a bone marrow transplant with stem cells that were donated by his brother.

Fortunately, for Mr. Rhudy, he was able to match with a family member. However, there are more than three million patients who are searching for a bone marrow match.

Since 1987, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) has helped patients find bone marrow matches by connecting patients, doctors, donors and researchers to the resources they need to make help make miracles happen. But the program needs more people, of every ethnicity to register, especially minorities to sign-up for the registry.

Since marrow types are genetically inherited, the best chance for a match is from a marrow donor within the same ethnic group as the patient. The next time you visit Blood Assurance, take a few minutes and sign up for the NMDP. You never know if you could help save someone’s life unless you are on the Registry.

Anyone between 18 and 60 years of age who meets the required health guidelines can join the NMDP Registry. A short health questionnaire is filled out and permission form signed to show consent regarding being listed on the Registry. The four quadrants of the donor's cheeks will be swabbed for tissue type. The information is then added to the Registry.

People can register for the NMDP at Corey’s bone marrow and blood drive on Dec. 2 or at any Blood Assurance location. “If I could save just one person’s life, I think that would be the coolest Eagle project in the world,” Corey said.

For more information about the bone marrow, please contact Blood Assurance’s Bone Marrow Department at (423) 756-0966 Ext. 159 or visit www.bloodassurance.org.