A bone marrow drive, inspired by a recently successful effort to find a transplant match for a Waukegan boy, is scheduled Saturday in Waukegan.
The drive will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Anastasia Catholic School, 629 W. Glen Flora Ave. Among the students there is 11-year-old Chase Perusky, who recently underwent bone marrow transplant surgery,
Participating in the drive involves a simple cheek swab. Participants then will be added to a bone marrow registry and eventually may be given the opportunity to donate marrow if a match is found.
The drive is being hosted by DKMS, an international non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and blood disorders, and has been dubbed the “Chase Giving Someone A Chance Bone Marrow Drive,” according to Julie Contreras, with the League of United Latin American Citizens of Lake County.
Contreras said that while Chase has received his transplant and is recovering at a Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, his family in Waukegan wanted to hold the blood drive to help others in similar situations.
Contreras, a former recruiter with the National Marrow Donor Program, said that Hispanics, African-Americans and Asians are underrepresented on bone marrow registries, and there is a special need for members of those communities to register as potential donors.
Karen Trutsch, a parent at St. Anastasia, is one of the organizers of the drive. She said it began as a benefit for Chase, but is focusing on helping kids at Children’s Hospital and others in need of match donors in honor of Chase.
“As soon as I learned about Chase I immediately began to put together a bone marrow drive,” Trutsch said. “Chase’s dad had said to me that his son had a match, but that all the children at Children’s Hospital in Wisconsin, where Chase is staying, did not have matches, so that is why we are hosting a bone marrow drive with Delete Blood (Cancer).”
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Contreras said Cubs star and cancer survivor Anthony Rizzo was told about Chase and sent him a signed baseball and other Cubs paraphernalia, and Rizzo wore a wristband for Chase throughout the World Series.
Contreras said the family believes Rizzo’s gestures helped raise Chase’s spirits, which helps with recovery.
Chase was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. One of his siblings turned out to be a perfect match and donated marrow for his transplant.
Contreras said she hopes that the way the local community has supported Chase will bring out big numbers for Saturday’s drive.
“We have rallied together as a community to bring awareness of the great need for more people to join the Delete Blood Cancer registry,” she said. “This registry helps find donors for patients in need of a lifesaving bone marrow transplant, (and) we are asking all to please take out a few minutes of your time. You can save a life.”
Approximately 70 percent of people suffering from blood-related illnesses must rely on donors outside their families to save their lives. Delete Blood Cancer is part of the world’s largest bone marrow donor center.
Twitter @jimnewton5