Because PTFW believes in the power of positive social connections both on personal and community levels, our organization donates 10% of every fundraiser to support the important work being done by another nonprofit and amplify its message.  No individual and no nonprofit can address all needs but collaboratively we can do a much better job of meeting them together. This year we will be donating to Be The Match. 

The support of those participating in this year’s Grandma Gatewood Legacy Hikes and Birthday Bash will extend beyond Prime Time for Women.  As some of you are aware, my  family’s journey has been profoundly impacted by Be The Match since my nephew, Drew, was diagnosed with leukemia last April. Be The Match is the largest United States non-profit organization dedicated to helping find bone marrow donors for patients in need of a life-saving transplant. Through Drew’s journey, we’ve learned that only 2% of the U.S. population is registered with the bone marrow registry, a stark contrast to the 51% registered organ donors.

My family was incredibly thankful that Drew’s sister was a full-match donor for Drew’s bone marrow transplant last August. Due to his relapse following the initial bone marrow transplant, there is a possibility that Drew may require a second transplant, this time from an unrelated donor sourced from the national Be The Match registry. The hard reality remains that countless individuals just like Drew continue to battle life-threatening blood diseases, awaiting a lifeline through the registry.

As the chosen beneficiary of this year’s Grandma Gatewood Legacy Hike, PTFW hopes to encourage and inspire others to register as stem cell donors with Be The Match and to consider making a donation to this organization that not only changes lives but, with your help, may SAVE them.