The
students and faculty at Yosemite High School are encouraging the
community to save lives with a replacement blood and bone marrow
drive for Sam Rowlett on Friday, Dec. 19 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The
blood drive will be held at the Sierra Telephone’s Parkway Building
(formerly known as the Sierra Online Building), located at 40033
Sierra Way, in Oakhurst.
Sam was in the Yosemite Union High School band and a football player
for the championship team. In January 2003, he was diagnosed with
acute lymphocytic leukemia. Not one of his five siblings has proven
to be a marrow match. He is currently receiving relapse therapy
for his leukemia. Please donate blood for Sam and become a potential
donor on the National Bone Marrow Registry. Although two bone marrow
donors have been found, doctors will continue to search for additional
donors up to the day of the actual transplant itself (Jan 8) in
case anything should happen to the present donors.
“We so appreciate the efforts of Sam and his family,” states Chris
Sorensen, Director of Community Relations and Develop for Central
California Blood Centers. “It is tremendous when those who experience
the need for blood and marrow transplants first hand, reach out
to the community to educate as well as help a great many others
in valley hospitals during the process,” adds Sorensen.
Blood donation takes less than one hour to complete. Donors must
be in good general health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be
at least 17 years old. Senior citizens are encouraged to donate,
as there is no upper age limit. Donors should eat a good meal and
drink plenty of water within four hours prior to their donation.
Donors can give blood every eight weeks, the time it takes for the
body to completely replace a pint of blood. A Social Security Number
is required for registration, and first time donors must present
photo identification upon registration.
The Central California Blood Center is the sole provider of blood
and blood products for the 31 hospitals in Fresno, Tulare, Madera,
Kings and Mariposa Counties and must collect at least 250 pints
of blood a day, to meet the needs of our Valley community.
Currently, there is funding to waive the registration fees for the
following ethnic groups: Hispanic, African American, Asian Island
Pacific and Native American. Partial funding is now available for
Caucasian donors. The registration is fee, for other ethnic groups,
will range from $25 to $65 per donor, depending on funding availability
at the time of drive. For questions regarding the National Marrow
Registry, please call 1-866-82-BLOOD (25663).
Comedy
and concert fund-raiser for Sam Rowlett
On
December 12, beginnning at 7 p.m., the family and friends of Sam
Rowlett will hold an evening of comedy and music at the Sierra Pines
Church located on Highway 49 (green roof) in order to raise money
for his continuing medical expenses. The entertainment will include
Christmas sing-a-longs with Sams’s sister, Emily, and a performance
by David Leo Shultz, a comedian from Indiana who has performed his
stand-up routine, skits and monologs across the country at camps,
conventions, schools and churches. He has a heart of gold and loves
to meet new people and help where needed. A local band will be on
hand to play cafe style originals and familiar songs. The band includes
Amy Snyder, Devin Fischer, Andy Brooks, and David Agee. An artist
from Merced will also play both original music and known covers.
After intermisson the evening will close with extended music and
prayer for all those who want to stay.
Admission is $5 or donation at the door. Coffee, warm drinks, pie
and desserts will be sold for $1 each. Specialty drinks will be
sold for $3.
Bring extra money for a special CD that was made and recorded by
Sam and Emily. T-shirts will also be sold. Both are $10 each. All
money will go to the family for medical expenses that occur while
they take the next step of faith towards Sam’s recovery.
Update on Sam: Good news — a bone marrow donor has been found. The
plans are that Sam and his father, John, will drive to Washington
on Monday, Dec. 8. Sam will undergo two weeks of tests. If all is
well the transplant process will commence. It begins with total
body radiation and chemo on Jan. 2 and then the actual transplant
on Jan. 8. John and Sam will have to remain in Washington for five
months after the transplant.
For information call Judie Fischer at 641-7272 or inquire at the
Sierra Pines Church. Donations are excepted even if you cannot attend
the fund-raiser.
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