Community Corner

Orono Rallies Around Student With Leukemia

Blood and bone marrow drive tomorrow will hope to find a match for leukemia patients throughout the nation.

Information provided by the Orono School District

Owen Pilot should be a carefree third-grader at Orono Intermediate School this fall. Instead, he is fighting for his life with a second relapse of leukemia. 

The Orono Schools community is rallying around Owen and his family, encouraging everyone to participate in a blood drive and bone marrow donor registry. 

That's because, to fight the disease this time, chemotherapy won't do the trick. Owen requires a bone marrow transplant. 

The drive will take place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30, at the Wayzata Children's Clinic located at 4695 Shoreline Drive in Spring Park. 

Two bloodmobiles from Memorial Blood Center will be on hand in the parking lot just outside the clinic lobby area for the actual blood donations. 

Those with questions regarding eligibility to donate blood are asked to visit the Memorial Blood Center web site at www.MBC.org

Answers to questions regarding the bone marrow registry or donation can be found at www.BAHBAD.org. Questions can also be directed to Tina Norton via email at norton5@live.com for marrow registry questions. Volunteers will also be on hand the day of the drive to answer any questions. 

For the blood donations, make an appointment as soon as possible. Access appointment times at www.mbc.org/searchdrives. Please use sponsor code 3865. 

You do not need to schedule an appointment or preregister for the bone marrow portion of the drive. 

For a flyer with all of the details, please click here

If you are unable to donate blood on the day of the drive, there will be an opportunity to donate blood at a Memorial Blood Center facility the week following the drive. 

If you are unable to register to be a bone marrow donor on the day of the drive, visit www.BAHBAD.org, to learn how to register online. 

Click here to meet Owen and learn more about his battle with leukemia.


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