Refusing to be a Victim: Woman Challenges Minority Community to Become Everyday Heroes

TRENTON, NJ, May 11, 2012 (Press-News.org) The Why Save a Life Foundation, founded in memory of William H. Young, brings cities around the U.S. a truly unique opportunity to save a life by registering to become a bone marrow donor. Additionally, interested donors can learn about bone marrow transplants, available cancer resources and participate in the 10th Annual 5K Run and Trenton Community Health Fair. Multiple local officials' are expected to be in attendance.

Niambi Daniels founded the Why Save a Life Foundation, a national grassroots organization determined to register at least 10,000 African Americans and 10,000 individuals from other under-represented ethnic groups to the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) also known as the "Be the Match Foundation" by 2014. "People with blood cancers and fatal autoimmune diseases require bone marrow transplants when traditional treatment fails. Finding a donor is difficult, more than eight different tissue characteristics are considered in determining a match. Seventy percent of people do not have a donor in their family", says Daniels. "They depend on the Be the Match registry and are more likely to match someone of their ethnicity". Minorities however, make up less than 10 percent of registered bone marrow donors.

Many minorities in need of a bone marrow transplant do not find a match until they have reached the advanced stage of their disease thereby reducing their chance for survival to 17%. In the case of Daniel's fiance, William H. Young, a match is never found. "William was diagnosed in January 2004 along with two other patients that had been admitted for the same disease. By the end of the week (the hospital) was able to identify several possible matches for the other two patients but none for William".

Young lost his battle against Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2005. William's strength and positive outlook inspired Daniels to raise awareness about the necessity for bone marrow donors in minority communities. The national tour kicked off in Brooklyn, New York on January 7th, Why Save A Life has confirmed upcoming bone marrow drives in Greensboro, Atlanta and Washington D.C. The Trenton bone marrow registry will be held at Cadwalader Park on May 19th. Daniels hopes to register 200 donors of African American, Hispanic and mixed heritage; donors need only complete a short questionnaire and submit a swab of their inner cheek to register.

About Why Save a Life
The Why Save a Life Foundation is a national grassroots organization determined to register at least 10,000 African Americans and 10,000 individuals from other under-represented ethnic groups to the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) also known as the "Be the Match Foundation" by 2014.

Website: http://www.facebook.com/WhySaveALifeFoundation