THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 4, 1996 TAG: 9608310165
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON A. MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 63 lines
The Tidewater Builders Association and the Tidewater Mortgage Bankers Association teamed up with the American Red Cross Aug. 27 to sponsor a combined blood drive and bone marrow typing.
The event, which took place at TBA's offices at 2117 Smith Avenue, was held in memory of Ralph Cerino, a long-time member of both associations who died of leukemia in May at age 51.
Volunteers whose bone marrow was typed joined the National Bone Marrow Donor Program, a data base used to match potential donors with those suffering from fatal blood diseases, including leukemia and some forms of cancer.
According to Red Cross statistics, 70 percent of such sufferers cannot find a suitable match within their own families.
``There are 2,000 searches (of the data base) a day,'' said Ona Bishop, bone marrow recruiter for the Red Cross, ``and 30 to 40 die each day not finding a suitable donor.
``There's an 80 percent cure rate for most of these diseases if donors are found in time.''
Debbie Hugill, a recruiter for the Red Cross's platelet donor program, said there is a critical need for whole-blood donors, especially types O and B.
Holiday weekends, she said, always increase the need for blood.
``It was a piece of cake. Everyone should consider doing their part. It's a great cause,'' said Joan Michaud of Virginia Beach and an employee of Nationwide Insurance.
``I'd been looking for a place to get this done for a while,'' said Nancy Filas of Chesapeake.
``I called the American Red Cross about 10 days ago, and they told me it was going to be done out here. It's real convenient. You can do both, give blood and be tested at the same time.''
Bone marrow typing normally costs $45 if done by the Red Cross locally.
In other regions, or if done privately, it can cost even more.
PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. and Virginia Beach Federal Savings Bank agreed to underwrite the typing done at the drive, making it free to all participants.
A total of 141 participated in the bone marrow typing and 119 in the blood drive. MEMO: More information about bone marrow typing is available by calling
1 (800) MARROW 7 (627-7697). For information about blood donations, call
1-800-GIVE LIFE (448-3543). The Red Cross will be conducting blood
drives on Monday from noon to 6 p.m. at Chesapeake Square Mall and
Greenbrier Mall.More information about bone marrow typing is available
by calling 1 (800) MARROW 7 (627-7697). For information about blood
donations, call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (448-3543). The Red Cross will be
conducting blood drives on Monday from noon to 6 p.m. at Chesapeake
Square Mall and Greenbrier Mall. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by DAWSON MILLS
Marge Williams, left, of Virginia Beach, waits as Red Cross
representative Ona Bishop reviews her medical history during the
blood donor and bone marrow registry drive sponsored by home
builders and mortgage bankers.
Elizabeth Heuneman of Norfolk, left, is being "typed" by
phlebotomist J.R. soriano of DePaul Hospital. by CNB