A Second Chance at Life
It is only through the generosity of individuals, that children and adults
are able to receive a transplant from an un-related volunteer donor and have the
hope of a cure.
Kids Beating Cancer uses the most sophisticated and accurate molecular HLA
(Human Leukocyte Antigen) A, B, DR lab testing available, a form of DNA
matching. This test cost Kids Beating Cancer (corporate national discount) $52 per lab test
(not including additional expenses to KBC to facilitate testing),
it would be over $300 if you were to be tested at a private physicians office.
Not all testing centers will provide this lab test.
Many centers require
you to donate a unit of blood in order to offer you the testing for free,
however, some centers only
fund free partial typing of Serology HLA A, B, testing, to save on costs, sadly only 3% of
the donors are identified by volunteers who were originally partially typed.
97% of the volunteers identified as a
compatible match for a patient have been Molecular HLA A, B, and DR typed.
This is more accurate, and reduces time, which is critical for the patient who
is in need of transplantation as their only hope for survival. Additional
cost Kids Beating Cancer funds to recruit a potential life-saving donor are; phlebotomy, educators, materials, supplies, and
shipping costs.
Your contribution to help off-set the expensive cost to identify a match
for a patient who is in need of transplantation will allow KBC to continue to
provide community outreach and education, facilitate donor recruitment drives,
and fund the testing cost of ALL interested volunteers.
The National Marrow Donor Program receives federal funding to type a
specific number of minority donors each year to add NEW typings not presently on
the National Registry. There is a critical need to increase the donor pool
of willing African Americans and Asians, in addition to all people of diverse
and mixed heritages. Kids Beating Cancer has access to
a limited amount of funded lab testing costs for minority volunteers. The
bulk of the volunteers wanting to join the National Registry are funded through
community organizations, corporate sponsored employee and community drives,
grants, and individual
contributions.
When funds for the Lab test to HLA
type interested volunteers becomes depleted throughout the year, funding alone
becomes the greatest barrier for a child or adult to receive successful marrow
transplantation.
If you choose not to be a marrow donor or are not
able to donate, you might consider funding the cost for KBC to recruit and test
another willing volunteer.
or mail contributions to:
Kids Beating Cancer
Donor testing
615 E. Princeton St. Suite #400
Orlando, FL 32803
