Seven Metro Atlanta Counties Partner with Be The Match to Bring Awareness to a Lifesaving Cure

DECATUR, Ga. – DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is pleased to announce her partnership with Be The Match, a national marrow donor program, and several neighboring county officials to support her efforts in closing the gap between donors and recepients in marginalized communities.

On Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, from 6  to 7:30 p.m., residents from Clayton, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, South Fulton, Henry and Newton counties will have the opportunity to learn about Be The Match and potentially become a match for someone in need through the We Are The Cure Town Hall.

Every three minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer like sickle cell anemia, leukemia and lymphoma. Disproportionately, African-Americans are diagnosed with cancers of the blood and, for many, a bone marrow transplant is their only hope for a cure.

Over the past 30 years, Be The Match has managed the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world and has facilitated more than 100,000 transplants globally. Of the 22 million potential donors currently on the Be The Match Registry, only 4 percent are African-American and more are needed to create lifesaving matches.

Joining Be the Match and Commissioner Cochran-Johnson in spearheading this effort are Commissioner DeMont Davis of Clayton County, Commissioner Tarenia Carthan of Douglas County, Commissioner Natalie Hall of Fulton County, Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs of South Fulton County, Commissioner Bruce Holmes of Henry County and Commissioner Demond Mason of Newton County.

“Learning that African-Americans only have a 23 percent chance of finding a match on the donor registry was alarming,” said Commissioner Cochran-Johnson. “Each of my colleagues from metro Atlanta’s neighboring counties share a combined passion in increasing that percentage and have graciously committed to this joint collaboration in saving lives.”

The We Are The Cure Town Hall will feature Erica Jensen, senior vice president of marketing, donor registry growth and development for the National Marrow Donor Program’s Be The Match. Information also will be available on how to request a free swab kit with the hopes of becoming a potential donor.

Current donors and cancer survivors who have been the recipients of successful matches will also be highlighted in addition to remarks from participating commissioners.

Registration for the We Are The Cure Town Hall can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3jJ39T0.

To schedule an interview with Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and any of the participating officials, or for more information on the We Are The Cure Town Hall, call 470.889.4213 or email Allison M. Slocum at amslocum@dekalbcountyga.gov.

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About Be The Match®

For people with life-threatening blood cancers—like leukemia and lymphoma—or other diseases, a cure exists. Be The Match connects patients with their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. People can contribute to the cure as a member of the Be The Match Registry®, financial contributor or volunteer. Be The Match provides patients and their families one-on-one support, education, and guidance before, during and after transplant.

Be The Match is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP), a nonprofit organization that matches patients with donors, educates health care professionals and conducts research through its research program, CIBMTR® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research®), so more lives can be saved. To learn more about the cure, visit BeTheMatch.org or call 1-800--MARROW-2.