Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 8, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Appeals to Public to Participate in Bone Marrow Registry

Gov. Gary Locke today met with Greg Hachey, an 11 year-old Puyallup boy with leukemia in need of a bone marrow transplant to have a chance at a full recovery. Locke also called on the public to sign up with the National Marrow Donor Program Registry to determine if they match with someone in need.

Joining Locke at a news conference today were Zeena Smith, rare donor recruitment representative for the Puget Sound Blood Center, and Mark, Cora, Chris and Greg Hachey. Mark and Cora are Greg’s parents, and Chris is his older brother.

“Your bone marrow donation could save Greg’s life, or the life of someone else in need,” Locke said. “Please give just a small blood sample so you can be included on the national registry.”

Because tissue type varies by ethnicity, Greg will most likely need a donor who, like himself, has one parent who is Caucasian and the other Filipino, or a full-blooded Filipino. Individuals of other Asian Pacific Island ethnicities may also be a match.

There are currently about 5 million names in the national registry, but only 6 percent of those are Asian Pacific Islanders and less than 2 percent are multiracial. Of the Asian Pacific Islander donors, only 5 percent are Filipinos.

“There is a tremendous need for people to sign up with a bone marrow registry,” Locke said. “Individuals of Asian descent, and most significantly, those of mixed-race backgrounds, are especially needed as donors.”

Each year, more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases for which a marrow or blood stem cell transplant may offer the only chance for a cure.

Individuals who are interested in joining the National Marrow Donor Program Registry can contact the Puget Sound Blood Center at 1-800-DONATE1, ext 1897. The next scheduled state agency marrow registry drive is August 26 at the Department of Social and Health Services.

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Related Links:
Governor’s Office: www.governor.wa.gov
Greg Hachey’s Web Site: www.greghachey.com
Puget Sound Blood Center: www.psbc.org

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