JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
The 633rd Surgical Operations Squadron hosted a bone marrow recruitment drive Sept. 16, 2016 at the Base Exchange and Shellbank Fitness Center at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Volunteers donated and registered their samples with the C.W. Bill Young/Department of Defense Marrow Donor Center who partner with the National Marrow Donor Program.
The program was established to recruit volunteer marrow donors from active-duty military, their family members, civil service employees, Coast Guard, National Guard, reservists, between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good health.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Nicole Reding, 633rd Surgical Operations Squadron, medical technician said when she first found out about the Bone Marrow Program she wanted to get involved.
“I think it’s a good cause,” said Reding. “It’s a great volunteer program that can potentially benefit those in need of bone marrow or stem cells.”
According to the DOD Marrow Donor Center website, the military is the nation's largest source of whole blood donations because military members meet strict health and age guidelines that the program requires. A bone marrow or blood cell transplant is a potentially life-saving treatment for patients with blood diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Once volunteers sign a short health questionnaire and provide DNA samples, the MDS sends the samples to the National Marrow Donor Program in Minneapolis, Minnesota where the volunteers’ information is placed in the national registry until their 61st birthday.
“I’m always looking to help people,” said Senior Airman Arnold Sandoval, 633rd Force Support Squadron, fitness specialist. “I’ve donated blood, platelets, plasma and if I’m a potential match, I will definitely give bone marrow.”
Sandoval said as a wingman he is providing a service for not only other Airman but for civilians and family members.
“This recruitment drive is so important because at the end of the day it’s all about saving lives no matter who they are,” said Sandoval. “You may not know the individuals you’re helping but I think it’s my duty to volunteer and serve others who are in need.”
If a donor is a preliminary match for a specific patient in need of a bone marrow transplant, they will be contacted and asked to consent to further testing. If found to be a match, the volunteer will be asked to donate marrow or stems for the patient.
For further information about the program, visit www.salutetolife.org or call 1-800-MARROW3.