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Ethnicity Matters
Anh urgently needs Vietnamese and other Asian donors. Because Anh's best possibility of finding a match is within her own ethnic group this is a plea to anyone of full Asian descent or anyone who is of partial Asian descent. Your help is urgently needed.
Also urgent is the need for "Hapa" or those who are both Asian and Caucasian to be tested. According to MavinFoundation.org people of mixed heritage comprise only 2% of the national database.
If you are Caucasian please consider being tested. Though it is less likely, you could be a match for Anh. Working with the AADP which is a minority specific organization there is a nominal cost associated to being tested through one of their drives for anyone who is not an ethnic minority.
Please also spread the word by email, on your blog or by word of mouth so that more Asians can be made aware of not only my cousin's need but the overall need for Asians as a group to get registered and into the national database.
If you are from one of the following communities, you are urgently needed in the national registry to be a bone marrow donor, stem cell or cord blood donor:
Black and African American
American Indian and Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
Hispanic and Latino
Multiple race
CLICK HERE to learn how to join the registry.
National Registry of Potential Marrow / Stem Cell Donors
As of January 3, 2009
Race |
Donors
Registered |
% of
Total |
Number of
Transplants |
Asian American Total |
532,006 |
7.2% |
531 |
- South Asian |
139,460 |
1.9% |
25 |
- Filipino (Philipino) |
43,437 |
0.6% |
55 |
- Japanese |
32,639 |
0.4% |
112 |
- Korean |
67,913 |
0.9% |
51 |
- Chinese |
84,284 |
1.1% |
56 |
- Other Southeast Asian |
36,400 |
0.5% |
49 |
- Vietnamese |
16,967 |
0.2% |
11 |
- Unspec. Asian/Pacific Islander |
95,093 |
1.3% |
172 |
- Multiple Asian/Pacific Islander |
15,813 |
0.2% |
876 |
Caucasian |
5,408,623 |
73.0% |
14,104 |
Black or African American |
559,972 |
7.6% |
876 |
Hispanic |
386,549 |
5.2% |
766 |
National Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander |
10,682 |
0.1% |
21 |
American Indian/Alaska Native |
83,739 |
1.1% |
85 |
Other |
30,072 |
0.4% |
209 |
Multiple Race |
219,367 |
3.0% |
- |
Declines |
43,696 |
0.7% |
265 |
Unknown |
132,606 |
1.8% |
970 |
TOTAL |
7,407,312 |
100% |
17,843 |
Statistics are:
If you are of Caucasian descent the likelihood of your finding a marrow match is 80%
If you are of minority descent your likelhood of finding a match (all minorities as a group) is less then 20%.
For a Vietnamese like Anh, your odds are even lower then that.
Because of these statistics cost to have your tissue typed falls into two categories:
Ethnic Minorities: Through the AADP there is NO CHARGE for testing for all ethnic minorities or people of mixed heritage. Because the need for diversity in the national registry is critical, if you are of Asian, Pacific Islander, African American, Native American & Alaskan, National Hawaiian, Hispanic, and Multi-Racial your tissue typing costs are completely covered by a federal grant.
Please call
Toll Free: 1-800-59-DONOR
Tel (510) 568-3700
or e-mail the AADP for a HOME-TEST KIT if you cannot attend a drive. They will ask you a series of questions, and then send you a kit if you qualify. Kits are fully funded through a special grant for anyone of all or partial ethnic minority descent.
Caucasians (Non-Minorities):
Both minorities and non-minorities appear to be able to order a free test kit from DKMS also.
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