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A bone marrow donor drive for Colin Hines, a University of Delaware senior, will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, July 12, at Dickinson High School, 1801 Milltown Rd., Wilmington, Del.

Hines, 25, was recently diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and a bone marrow transplant has been recommended. Because there is no match for him in the national registry, UD alumni have organized a bone marrow donor drive in an effort to both find a match and spread the word about how easy it is to register and donate.

“My family, friends, and I are asking you to come out and give the most precious gift of all, for me and others in need of a transplant. I have lived my life by the motto 'Make Life Count,' and now I ask you to do the same by granting the gift of life to another,” Hines said.

Katelyn Farago, a 2007 UD graduate, said that on July 12 attendees will be provided information and asked to register as a donor. A swab will be taken from the inside of their cheeks and their tissue types will then be added to the national bone marrow registry, which allows physicians to search for potential matches for their patients.

Bone marrow donation can be done in one of two ways, Farago said, either by inserting a needle into the hip bone or through a process the retrieves stem cells from the donor's bloodstream. Both are outpatient procedures.

Potential donors must be between the ages of 18 and 55 and in good general health. For other eligibility requirements, see the DKMS Americas bone marrow donor Web site.

Media contact: Martin A Mbugua, (302) 831-8749, [mbugua@udel.edu]