During the month of September 2004, the Community Sickle Cell Support Group and the Colonel Charles E. McGee Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc, will partner with various organizations and locations to try and get 4000 people on the National Bone Marrow Registry

Roxbury, MA July 17, 2004 -- September is "National Sickle Cell Awareness Month." On September 1, 2004 the Community Sickle Cell Support Group (CSCSG), Inc. of Roxbury, MA and the Colonel Charles E. McGee Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc (CCEM-TAI) located at Hanscom Air Force Base, will host the first of series of Bone Marrow Drives throughout Greater Boston Area. The first Bone Marrow Drive is tentatively scheduled at the State House September 1, 2004. We are also are having a drive September 8 at Hanscom Air Force Base, September 14 (tentative) at the Dimock, September 18 at City Hall in Malden for Malden Day, September 29th (tentative) at City Hall with the Boston Public Health Commission. We are also planning to work with Roxbury Comprehensive, Roxbury Community College, and Codman Square where we held our first community drive last year. We would like you to assist us in encouraging not only African Americans and Hispanic Americans but also all people of color to participate in the screening and join the National Registry by joining us.

Our goal is to increase the registry by at least 4000 qualified volunteers who are committed to answering the call. A bone marrow donor can save the life of an individual stricken with deadly blood disease, such as sickle cell or cancer. We strongly believe this can be accomplished by your presence. To ensure this, we are planning to collaborate with the Latin Professionals Network, National Association of Asian American Professionals, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, The National Black MBA Association - Boston Chapter, Partners, and the National Council of Negro Women-Greater Boston Section. We hope to reach a broad aspect of this population. Although this drive was originally focused on increasing the number of people of color on the registry, no one will be turned away and we currently working on securing funding to make sure we have funding to cover the testing fee. As it is now people of color or mixed races will be tested for free.

September 8 Hanscom Air Force Base MA

September 14 Codman Square Health Center

September 18 Malden "Malden Day"

September 28 New Covenant Christian Church, Dorchester MA

September 29 City Hall (Boston Public Health)

Contact Information:

Nichole King-campbell

781-377-9142

imncharg@aol.com

www.cscsginc.org

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