PRESERVE OUR LEGACY PARTNERS WITH LINK TO LIFE NETWORK TO EDUCATE AND INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT BONE MARROW DONATION

Historical Partnership to increase awareness

New York, NY – Individuals with an ethnic background are at a disadvantage when it comes to finding a bone marrow match on the National Registry. According to the U.S. Census report, there are 311,899, 603 people in the United States and out of population, only 9 million people are registered on the National BE THE MATCH Registry as bone marrow donors. According to the C.W. Bill Young Transplantation website, in 2010, out of 9 million registered volunteers, only 28% (approximately 2.5 million volunteer donors) are represented by individuals from ethnic backgrounds. However, there is a new historical partnership that will embark on increasing the numbers of ethnic volunteer donors – that is Preserve Our Legacy and Link to Life Network, Inc.

Link to Life Network, Inc. (LTLN), is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization, which was formed in 1992 to assist the NMDP in its efforts to register minority bone marrow donors. LTLN is the “only” African American official recruitment group of the National Marrow Donor Program/BE THE MATCH registry. Their mission is to increase the opportunity for minorities with life threatening diseases to obtain bone marrow transplants by increasing public awareness of the need for minority potential bone marrow registrants.

Preserve Our Legacy, Inc. (POL) is a 501 (c)(3), not-for-profit organization that was started after the devastating loss of a friend’s son named Jaden Hilton. The mission of the organization is to educate (edu-tain) individuals and create awareness about the benefits of stem cells and treatment options they provide, through peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), bone marrow and umbilical cord blood donation. In efforts to increase awareness, POL founders fought and co-wrote A2168/S2038 in New Jersey. This historical legislation was established when NJ Governor Christie signed their legislation into law on August 25, 2010. The organization also received a resolution from New York Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright naming May 3, “Bone Marrow and Umbilical Cord Blood Day” officially for New York State.

These organizations have joined forces to increase awareness within the ethnic community about the benefits of becoming a registered volunteer to help save a life. Both organizations have a calendar full of events that will be announced in the near future.

For more information about Preserve Our Legacy, Inc. log onto to or contact 877.778.3623: Shana Melius, ext 702 or shana.melius@preserveourlegacy.org, for more information about Link to Life Network, Inc. log onto or contact 917 593-4174 or michaelmarrowman@aol.com. For more information about C.W. Bill Young Transplantation Program Registry Data log on to: http://bloodcell.transplant.hrsa.gov/RESEARCH/Registry_Data/index.html
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