| There are many ways you can help in a big, big way. |
Help someone do their "something huge"
With the help of so many, I had the opportunity to "do something huge," as I've put it so many times. But this is not something I could've done alone. I didn't beat Aplastic Anemia alone. I had the help of doctors, nurses, friends and family supporting me the whole way through.
There are also "trail angels" that have helped along the way. These are the people that donated blood or got registered on the bone marrow registry. These people haven't only helped me in some way, but so many others. Please join them.
Donate to the AA&MDSIF in honor of "Our Hike"
We are still plugging away, trying to raise as many funds as possible that will go towards precious research and patient education for Aplastic Anemia and other Bone Marrow Diseases. Please consider making your tax-deductible donation in honor of "Our Hike." You will be redirected to the AA&MDSIF's website where you can make your secure donation, and by making this in honor of "Our Hike," the amount you donate simply gets added to the total amount we've raised. Thank you!
give blood
Sign up on the next blood drive near you. If you live in the Fox Valley area, contact the Community Blood Center. Otherwise, another great place to start is The American Red Cross. Once you get an appointment, bring a friend! There's usually free cookies, and you have to share those with a good friend, right? :) Plus, for every pint of blood you donate, you are saving up to 3 lives! No that's a really amazing thing!
get on the bone marrow registry
I encourage you to visit the National Marrow Donor Program for more information on joining the Bone Marrow Registry. I recently learned myself, that donating is not painful, and not nearly as scary as I once heard. There are a lot of people just waiting for a donor match. You may be the one. Please read a little about the process of donating bone marrow, and sign up! Now that's "doing something huge!"
help spread awareness!
Another great way to help is to spread awareness. Pass this site along, tell your friends, your family, or just read up a little on the diseases. By just having heard of Aplastic Anemia, you are one step ahead of a lot of patients upon diagnosis, and even though it's just one step, it's a HUGE step!