USA: Be The Match Lexi’s Project

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Benton High School student, Lexi Savage is raising awareness and funds for Be The Match, stem cell and marrow donor registry,  by hosting a ball hockey tournament.

The event, Facing Off Against Leukemia, is open to the public and will be held at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds near Hirsch Coliseum, Saturday, September 17, from 4:30pm to tournament completion.

The event is being held in honor of her late stepfather, Bossier Parish Deputy Barrett Lovell.  Deputy Lovell was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2014.  He underwent a cord blood transplant, but learned just a few months later that the transplant was unsuccessful and his cancer had returned.

Barrett Lovell died from complications from his cancer in November, 2015.

Facing Off Against Leukemia is also officially recognized as a World Marrow Donor Day (WMDD) event. WMDD is celebrated in more than 50 countries around the world. The objective is to thank donors worldwide and raise awareness of the impact of stem cell transplant on patients’ lives.  www.worldmarrowdonorday.org

Brian Allison, Marrow Donor Coordinator with LifeShare Blood Centers, will be onsite at the event to provide information about Be The Match marrow donor program and conduct registration at the drives. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 44 years old are encouraged to join the registry and be a marrow donor if they are found to be a match. For many persons with life-threatening illnesses, a marrow transplant from someone they do not know may be their only cure.

For more information and questions about the marrow registry, do to bethematch.org or call 318-834-7710.

LifeShare Blood Centers regularly supplies blood components to 117 medical facilities throughout Louisiana, East Texas and South Arkansas. Founded in Shreveport, La. in 1942, it is a nonprofit community service provider governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees.  LifeShare is a member of America’s Blood Centers and the American Rare Donor Program, is licensed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and accredited by AABB.