NEA National Education Association Annual Meeting - Marrow Drive! Three Teachers Three Stories

July 1st and 2nd, 2008 Washington, DC

Why:

THREE TEACHERS - THREE STORIES
Tom Schaeffer - Marrow Donor (left) joined the National Marrow Donor Program Registry in 1992. Tom teaches in Rubicon, Wisconsin, and is a member WEAC. In 2005 he was told his marrow matched a patient in need, but was not told who the patient was. Tom did not hesitate to make the donation. By chance, Tom was saving the life of a fellow educator.

Chad Farner - Marrow recipient is a math teacher in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and is a member of the ISEA. In late 2004, Farner was diagnosed with myelodysplasia (MDS), cancer of the bone marrow. He received a marrow transplant from a then anonymous donor and a long recovery ensued. After a year, the two teachers in neighboring states started communicating and they finally met face-to face on October 27, 2006. A grateful Farner notes: "If people hear Tom's story, they might say to themselves 'I can do that.' The good that you do comes back to you. You are literally saving someone's life."

Regina Hanretta Wagner - A marrow transplant candidate who is currently seeking a marrow match. She battles the same foe Chad Farner fought, MDS, and like Chad, seeks a potentially lifesaving marrow match. Regina is a member of
NEA affiliate NYSUT and she has worked for over three decades as an educator in Sullivan County, New York. She and her husband, Steve, have two daughters, both attending college.

9:00 AM to 5 PM (both days)
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Booth #236/ Hall D, Level 2
801 Mount Vernon Place NW
Washington, DC 20001

Contact:
Alina Suprunova 212.209.6703 or alina@dkmsamericas.org