In response to public demand, LifeShare Blood Centers announced Tuesday that it will sponsor a bone marrow drive on Saturday, June 23, at its Linwood Avenue location in Shreveport. “We have had a tremendous number of phone calls and emails, asking LifeShare to have another bone marrow drive,” said Libby Murphy, LifeShare spokeswoman. “There are so many people who want to be registered with the National Marrow Donor Program. We can now provide them with that opportunity.” Over the past several months a number of area residents have come forward to be tested as a possible bone marrow match for Ethan Powell, the 6-month-old son and only child of Ben and Becky Powell, of Shreveport, LA. Ethan was diagnosed with leukemia in February, when he was only 2-months-old. Since that time, he has been a patient at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN. Little Ethan’s plight has raised awareness of the need for bone marrow donors. “The public will have a double opportunity to save lives,” said Murphy. “By donating blood and becoming a potential marrow donor, it’s possible to help people with life-threatening conditions like leukemia. The need is great for donors of all races and ethnicities. Americans helping Americans is what we as a people do best.” The bone marrow and blood drives will take place at LifeShare Blood Centers’ Shreveport location at 8910 Linwood Avenue on Saturday, June 23, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Potential blood donors must be 17-75 years old, weigh at least 110 lbs., know the names and purpose of any medication taken, and should increase fluid intake and eat a meal prior to donation. Testing is free for potential marrow donors, who must be 18-60 years old. For more information, call (318) 683-6782, or visit
www.lifeshare.org or
www.marrow.org.
