Culver's of St. Charles to host Sept. 20 'Day of Giving' and marrow registry for girl battling rare leukemia
In honor of Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Culver's of St. Charles, 4068 East Main St., will host a "Day of Giving" and marrow registry drive from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20.
The event will honor a local 6-year-old with leukemia. Culver's will donate 10 percent of its receipts to Be the Match, a national bone marrow registry.
The event's honoree is Ava Lee, who was diagnosed with a rare type of leukemia last March. What started out as a skin infection soon after revealed the rare disease seen in only about four percent of children with leukemia. Ava continues to receive blood transfusions while she awaits a bone-marrow transplant. Since neither Lee's mom, dad or younger sister is a match, the family's hopes hinge on a match via an unrelated marrow donor.
According to Be the Match, ethnicity plays a big role in bone-marrow matches. Because Ava is of Taiwanese and Korean descent, her match most likely will be with someone who shares her similar ethnicity. Although only seven percent of the current, national registry of potential marrow donors are Asian, Lee's parents are hopeful that this Culver's drive will reveal the "needle in the haystack" they desperately seek.
"The money we raise from the event will help Be The Match continue its role in identifying potential marrow donors for the many who await a marrow transplant," says Culver's of St. Charles owner Scott Martenson, whose Culver's of Lombard restaurant hosted a similar event last month.
"Anyone with children can relate to the anxiety and worry that Ava's family must be going through every day," Martenson adds. "With September being Blood Cancer Awareness Month, this is the perfect opportunity for our patrons to show their support for Ava by joining the bone marrow registry."
Be the Match will host the registry process, which only requires a cheek swab. Registrants are limited to ages 18-44, and must be in good health. For more information, visit BeTheMatch.org.