“I’m really inspired by people’s outreach this weekend. Even if we save one person’s life it will be worth this,” said Ron, who works as an office clerk at Chrysler.

 

The weekend was bittersweet for Ron, as he celebrated those who received bone marrow transplants and mourned those who have died because they couldn’t find a match in time. Last Friday marked the four-year anniversary of Tom’s transplant surgery and his birthday. But it was also the day that medical student Uzoma Azuh lost his battle with leukemia when he couldn’t find a life-saving bone marrow donor. Ron was introduced to Azuh, a 22-year-old Riverside high school graduate who immigrated to Canada from Nigeria, after reading newspaper stories about his plight.

 

For Chris LoDuca, who almost died from chronic myelogenous leukemia until he received a bone marrow transplant two years ago, it is unacceptable to hear that another person has perished waiting for a donor.

 

“I’m sick and tired of hearing about kids and adults who didn’t make it. So it makes me feel great that people are out here spreading the message to others to donate,” said LoDuca.

 

Luis and Ileana Mercado of Kitchener attended the camping weekend in search of a bone marrow donor for their son Dany, 24, who has been battling leukemia since 2002. It is a quest that has been especially difficult given that the donor must be of Hispanic descent in order to be a match for Dany, an immigrant from Nicaragua. The Mercados say minorities make up a very small proportion of the Canadian Blood Services bone marrow registry.

 

“We are dying, I can’t explain how difficult this is,” said Ileana Mercado.

 

Sign up for the bone marrow registry at www.bloodservices.ca.