Fire Truck Pull Sign Up Sheet 2016

John’s Story

This year, John and I celebrated two years since his stem cell transplant. His two year checkup, the ‘final’ checkup, couldn’t have gone better. We’re overwhelmingly grateful to be able to move forward with our lives knowing that John is healthy.

In December of 2013, John was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. In the beginning we were told we had no hope, but to our relief, we soon learned he was a candidate for a stem cell transplant.  It was during that time, between when we found out there was a way to save John and when they came to us with news of a donor, that we learned the importance of Be the Match. A complete stranger gave us back our life together. Now, we want to help others who need that same precious gift.

For more about John’s journey, visit: www.simplymarcella.com/John

Be Someone’s Hero

Celebrating our personal success, however, doesn’t mean we don’t remember what it was like to learn our life together depended on finding a match for John in a database of strangers. Fortunately for us, there was someone out there who could give us hope, our personal hero.

That isn’t the case for everyone, something we need to change, and you can help.

For 70% of those in need of a transplant, no one in their family will be a match. Be the Match is part of the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world. 70% of the time, there may be nothing family members can do, but there is help, and there is hope.
Each and every one of us has the power to be someone’s hero. You, right now, can give someone back their hope. All it takes is a simple cheek swab or a heartfelt donation of money or time.

It isn’t painful, it isn’t difficult, and it can even be fun, especially if you attend one of our Be the Match events.

Our Events

Simply Save a Life Kentucky Derby Fundraising Event – Our 2nd Annual “Simply Save a Life” Fundraising Event to be held at the St. Clair Golf Club on May 7, 2016.  If you would like an invitation, please contact us at 810.326.4438

Simply Save a Life – Our 2nd Annual Be the Match FIRE TRUCK PULL and “Swab Event” in St. Clair! This event, on June 4th, offers people the opportunity to add themselves to the Be the Match registry and is held with special thank to St. John River District Hospital, our Golden Pearl sponsor! WE NEED ALL 18-44 YEAR OLDS TO COME AND GET SWABBED!  We want to add you to the registry!  Any age can pull the fire truck and participate in the fun-filled event.

Can’t attend the events? There are other ways to help!

What You Can Do:

1) Join the Registry from HOME: If you are between the ages of 18 and 44 and in general good health, please consider joining the Be the Match Registry online or at an event.

To join online, go to www.join.bethematch.org/SimplyMarcella16. Once you complete the form and submit it, the Be the Match lab will mail a cheek swab kit to your house. Simply follow the swab directions and drop the kit back in the mail. That’s it!

You may never get called on to donate, but if you do, it could be potentially lifesaving for someone. Please only consider joining if you are willing to donate to ANYONE in need.

2) Make a Donation: Be the Match relies on your support. Donations are used toward patient assistance, lifesaving research and adding potential donors to the Be the Match Registry. Any contribution is greatly appreciated and helps save lives!

To make a tax-deductible donation online, please click here: Make a Gift.

If you prefer to mail in a donation, please make checks payable to “Be the Match Foundation” with “Simply Marcella” in the memo line and mail to:

Be the Match Foundation
Attn: Team Be The Match
500 N. 5th, Minneapolis, MN 55401

3) Spread the Word:We know there are many myths when it comes to marrow donation, but did you know the most common form of donation today is a NON-SURGICAL process? Watch this video to see what donating is all about: Watch Video Please help us spread the word. Share this page with your family and friends.

4) Participate:There are many ways you can participate, from volunteering to advocacy to hosting or attending events. For more information on what you can do to help, please visit: Support-the-Cause

What is Be the Match?

Be the Match is a nationwide community committed to helping patients in need of a marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant by raising funds to add potential marrow donors to the Be the Match Registry®. By supporting, you will help raise funds for patients in need of a marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. Together, we have the potential to truly make a difference to thousands of men, women and children in need of a lifesaving transplant.

What does Be the Match do?

Be the Match connects patients with lifesaving marrow donors. We help save lives by:

Recruiting potential donors: Be the Match manages the largest and most diverse donor registry in the world with more than 10.5 million marrow donors and nearly 185,000 cord blood units.

Supporting patients: Be the Match provides financial assistance to patients and their families to help offset the costs of a marrow transplant.

Educating doctors: Doctors turn to Be the Match to learn about transplant advances, caring for transplant patients and the importance of timely referrals for transplants.

Advancing science: Be the Match supports research to advance the science of marrow transplant, from improved donor and patient matching to improving post-transplant treatment.

Need to Know More?

For general questions about our upcoming Simply Marcella events, please contact Rylie Joachim at (810)326-4438 or rylie@simplymarcella.com.

For questions about Be the Match, please contact Tarita Gibson at tgibson@nmdp.org.

Thank you for your consideration. Remember, every donation helps save lives!