I feel very fortunate to live in a healthy community. There are ample opportunities to be active, either as part of every day life or in a programmed activity in the Glebe. We are surrounded by kids on bikes, runners, skiers and families involved in all kinds of recreation.
Given the general level of good health in our neighbourhood, I am always taken aback when one of our healthy neighbours is diagnosed with a serious disease. Just last night I heard about someone in our neighbourhood, fit, active, a parent to two young children, diagnosed with Leukemia. This post is a call to our community for help.
This Saturday, March 29th, there will be a Swab Event in support of finding a bone marrow donor for our neighbour, and for many other people suffering from Leukemia that need a bone marrow transplant.
In this Glebite's case, there is a desperate need for a bone marrow transplant, but given the individual has rare DNA, a match has not been found - even with the 22 million on the stem cell bank world wide!
Stephen Beckta, and his wife Maureen, are hosting the Swabathon event at their Gezelig restaurant next Saturday, March 29th from 9:00am-1:00pm. Please ask every 17 - 35 year old you know to please stop in at Gezelig for a very simple and painless Q-tip swab of your cheek and to please share (FB, Twitter, email, etc.) this information with as many people as possible in hopes that a match can be found for our neighbour.
Unfortunately, I've known a few people who have had serious illnesses. At those times, I've seen our community come out in spades to provide support, be that with food, childcare or running errands. This is another one of those times (I hope I don't see too many more). And it is one of those times that defines a community for its care of each other. Please swab!
Christine
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