LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim May 23-27, 2011, as Marrow Donor Awareness Week in New York
State

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 23-27, 2011, as Marrow Donor Awareness
Week in New York State; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the 20th Annual Legislative Bowl-A-Thon for the
"Be The Match Foundation," formerly known as "The Marrow Foundation"
will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at the Olympic Lanes in Menands,
New York; and
WHEREAS, This year's Bowl-A-Thon is dedicated to individuals in need
of a marrow transplant; and
WHEREAS, The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) has created Be The
Match, a new identity through which it will engage the public in its
mission to save lives; Be The Match will improve the work done to help
patients by increasing public commitment and support of its mission
through increased awareness and deepening relationships with registry
members; furthermore, Be The Match will be a transformational change to
attract, retain and motivate the public; and
WHEREAS, Marrow transplants now give people dying of blood-related
diseases, such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, and lymphoma, a chance to
be cured if a donor can be found whose marrow matches their own; and
WHEREAS, Only 30 percent of patients find a match donor in their fami-
ly; the other 70 percent can turn to the NMDP to search for an unrelated
donor or cord blood unit; and
WHEREAS, Caucasians, Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans have
between a 72 and 93 percent likelihood of having a donor on the Be The
Match Registry who is willing and able to help save a life; and
WHEREAS, Finding a matched donor on the Be The Match Registry is only
the beginning; currently, 47 percent of those who are identified as a
match do not go on to donate; and
WHEREAS, Since 1986, the NMDP has been dedicated to creating an oppor-
tunity for all patients to receive the transplant therapy they need,
when they need it; and
WHEREAS, NMDP has facilitated more than 43,000 marrow and cord blood
transplants; and
WHEREAS, African-American or Black patients have an estimated 66
percent likelihood of having a donor on the Be The Match Registry who is
willing and able to help save a life; Caucasians have approximately a 93
percent likelihood; Hispanics approximately a 72 percent likelihood;
Asians approximately a 73 percent likelihood; and American Indians and
Alaska Native patients have an estimated 82 percent likelihood; and
WHEREAS, Many people in the United States have died because their
desperate searches have not produced a matching donor in time; it is
vital, therefore, that every effort be made to assure that the donor
pool is as large and diverse as possible; and
WHEREAS, It is of critical importance that African-Americans, Hispan-
ics, Asians and Native Americans, who have diverse tissue types, become
potential donors so that the same hope can be offered to all Americans
in need; and
WHEREAS, In memory of the late Senator Eugene Levy, it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to designate May 23-27, 2011, as Marrow Donor
Awareness Week in New York State, recognizing and honoring all of those
who have selflessly donated marrow, or who have been tested as a poten-
tial donor, and to enhance public awareness of the desperate need for
marrow donors, particularly minority donors; and

WHEREAS, Everyone has the ability to give "the gift of life" by donat-
ing marrow to someone who faces imminent death from a blood-related
disease; and
WHEREAS, The observance of Marrow Donor Awareness Week provides the
opportunity to educate people, to encourage them to consider marrow
donation, helping to ensure that more lives are saved; and
WHEREAS, Marrow Donor Awareness Week is also a time to recognize and
applaud the researchers, medical professionals, advocates and volun-
teers, past and present, who have contributed so much to the advancement
of marrow donation and transplantation and, most particularly, to
acknowledge and express our deepest gratitude to those who donate their
marrow for their extraordinary generosity in giving the gift of life;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 23-27, 2011, as
Marrow Donor Awareness Week in New York State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York; The National Marrow Donor Program; Christine Fleming, President,
Be The Match Foundation, formerly known as The Marrow Foundation; Katy
Vescio, donor; Zacceus Cancer, donor to his younger sister Za-navia
Cancer; Link to Life Network, Inc.; and the New York Blood Center in
recognition of their efforts in educating the public and assisting those
in need of a marrow donation.