DKMS, Soccer Unites Utah and D.C. United Host Bone Marrow Donor Drive to Help Save the Life of Marcia Williams

Sunday, March 15, 2009 - RFK Stadium, Washington D.C.

New York, NY (February 17, 2009) - DKMS and D.C. United will band together to help save the life of Marcia Williams, wife of Andy Williams, the Major League Soccer midfielder for Real Salt Lake and the Reggae Boyz, Jamaica's national soccer team. A bone marrow donor drive will be held in her honor on Sunday, March 15th at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.

On July 3, 2008, Marcia received the terrible news that she has an aggressive form of acute leukemia and only a bone marrow transplant will save her life. In the last few weeks, Marcia’s blood counts have severely deteriorated and she desperately needs to find a donor match. Marcia has waged a fierce fight against her rare disease and needs our help now more than ever.

After learning of Marcia's deteriorating health through Soccer Unites Utah, a grass roots charitable group founded by Marcia’s dear friend, Deb Harper, D.C. United felt compelled to help immediately. The team will show their support by attending the bone marrow donor drive in Marcia’s honor, which will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at RFK Stadium (2400 East Capitol Street, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 in the Media Room) from 12 pm to 5 pm.

DKMS has partnered with other soccer communities in Salt Lake City and now in Washington, D.C. to help find a life-saving donor match for Marcia’s rare bone marrow tissue type. U.S. Soccer Federation referee Steve Taylor, a veteran with Major League Soccer and Jamaican Ambassador to the United States Anthony Johnson have thrown their support behind Marcia and DKMS and will attend the drive in the Nation’s Capitol.

“Marcia is Jamaican and because of her varied tissue characteristics a life-saving match is very difficult to find,” stated Katharina Harf, EVP, DKMS Americas. “The more people that get tested, the more chance there is of finding someone to save not only Marcia's life but also the lives of the more than 140,000 people who are diagnosed with blood cancers each year,” added Harf.
Blacks are underrepresented on the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry, making up only eight percent of the 7 million donors in the U.S. Due to low registration; only 17% of patients in the black community will receive a transplant.

“With all the love, help and support we have received, I am still desperately in need of a bone marrow transplant. I am relying on a stranger to save my life. I am asking you, PLEASE, please think about the lives you could save; my life, among many others, moms, dads, babies can be saved if you take the first step and register to become a bone marrow donor.

Registering to become a bone marrow donor is quick and easy. It consists of completing a registration form and swabbing your cheeks. Understand your commitment, find out if you are eligible to register as a potential life-saving bone marrow donor and learn about the donation process.

As a non-profit organization, DKMS relies on the generosity of individuals to help finance the $65 cost DKMS pays to tissue type each bone marrow donor who registers. Donations are voluntary. Donate today! 100% of your donation will be used to register donors and add them on the National Registry.

About DKMS

DKMS was founded in Germany in 1991 by Peter Harf and Professor Dr. Gerhard Ehninger, after Peter lost his wife, Mechtild, to acute leukemia. Today, DKMS is the world’s largest and most successful bone marrow donor center with over 1.8 million registered donors. Since its founding, DKMS has facilitated more than 16,000 transplants.

DKMS is committed to the fight against leukemia. We strive to give every blood cancer patient and equal chance by recruiting donors from every race and ethnicity. We inspire hope and healing by helping to match our donors with patients in need of a bone marrow transplant.

DKMS Americas is a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization.

For more information about DKMS and to learn more about registering as a bone marrow donor, please visit www.dkmsamericas.org