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ABMDR to Hold 2nd Annual ‘Walk of Life’

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WATERTOWN, Mass.—On Sat., Sept. 28, the New England Chapter of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) will host its second annual “Walk of Life” walk-a-thon in Watertown. Funds raised from the walk will support the instrumental work of the ABMDR, which helps Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants.

Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry Walk-a-Thon to Be Held Sept. 28
Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry Walk-a-Thon to Be Held Sept. 28

“Bone marrow transplanting procedures are now as simple as a blood draw, and pose little or no pain, so raising funds to recruit bone marrow donors is a key first step toward saving a life,” said ABMDR President Dr. Frieda Jordan.

The walk-a-thon will take participants on a 2.2-mile route that begins at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) on 47 Nichols Ave., and concludes at the “Faire on the Square” town celebration on Main St., where participants can enjoy the festivities, including local food, music, and dance.

“Every step taken during the walk-a-thon brings hope for a long-awaited bone marrow match for a fellow Armenian struck with a life-threatening disease like leukemia or other blood-related illness. And since the unique genetic make-up of Armenians makes it extremely difficult to find suitable bone marrow matches among the existing international bone marrow donor registries, the ABMDR’s database serves as a vital resource when crisis strikes,” Jordan explained.

“Whether you choose to walk or sponsor a walker with a monetary contribution, you can make a huge difference in someone’s life, so we‘d like to urge the entire community to support this event.” said Alvart Badalian, the chair of the New England chapter of ABMDR.

To register for the walk-a-thon, sponsor a walker, or for more information, interested individuals are encouraged to visit www.abmdr.am/ne-walk/ or contact Tatoul Badalian by calling (617) 331-0426.

Established in 1999, ABMDR, a non-profit organization, helps Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date, the registry has recruited over 22,000 donors in 17 countries across 4 continents; identified 2,135 patients; and facilitated 16 bone marrow transplants.

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