Kevin Walsh, Author, News & Sports Anchor
Social Media Release
Kareem's Crusade against Leukemia. What's Missing?
Shortage of Minority Bone Marrow Donors Left Out
11.11.2009 – Kareem's Abdul-Jabbar's announcement that he has chronic myelogenous leukemia is very timely on a couple of levels. But there's a story behind his story that's as compelling and ultimately serves more people. No doubt Kareem's doing a good thing by going public, but he's missing a grand opportunity to discuss an issue related to what he has and who he is. November just happens to be National Bone Marrow Donor Awareness Month.
There is a critical shortage of minority donors available on donor rolls--plenty of reasons why too. Of the seven million people on bone marrow donor rolls, only eight percent are African American. If you are black and can't find a bone marrow donor match within your family, you have a 20-30 percent less chance of finding a match on the outside than someone who is white. Same is true for other minorities. Cancer doesn't discriminate, but this is another example of the racial gap in available healthcare. Kareem's to be applauded for being public now about his illness, but is there an opportunity for more to be done?
Other major medical bodies such as the National Marrow Donor Program are constantly pressing the issue about the lack of minority donors, but have never had such an opportunity to sound the bell. U.S. Senator Debbie Ann Stabenow (D-MI) pushed for a resolution in the summer to have July designated as African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month.
Kevin Walsh, author of The Marrow in Me, and a recent bone marrow donor himself knows the news value of this because he is a reporter too. To interview Kevin Walsh please contact him by email at kevinwalshtv@gmail.com or call 215-264-1441.
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- What #Kareem missed when sharing his news about #leukemia.
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- News Facts
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- November is National Bone Marrow Donor Awareness Month
- Of the 7 million people on bone marrow donor rolls, only 8% are African American
- Blacks have a 20-30% less chance of finding a bone marrow match outside of family.
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- Kevin Walsh Blog
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- Kareen Abdul-Jabbar, chronic myelogenous leukemia, leukemia, cancer, bone marrow, shortage minority donors, racial gap, Kevin Walsh
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The Marrow in Me, By Kevin Walsh
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