September 19, 2006
Tuesday

Ketchikan, Alaska - As part of the annual Ketchikan Health Fair, First City Rotary, The Blood Bank of Alaska and Alaska Health Fair, Inc. will be sponsoring a Blood and Bone Marrow Drive. Blood donors must be between eighteen and seventy four years of age. Sixteen and seventeen year olds may also donate with parental permission. Donors must also weigh at least 110 pounds and be in overall good health. The process takes approximately one hour, and all donors can enjoy cookies and juice when they are done.

Bone marrow registration will also be conducted during the health fair. The test is a simple swabbing of the inside of the cheek. Those who wish to add their names to the National Bone Marrow Registry will be able to do so at a substantially reduced rate, thanks to financial support from grants and funding provided by Ketchikan's First City Rotary.

Because of a critical need to diversify the registry, all ethnic minority donations will be funded by the U.S. Government. Caucasian donors can be screened for just $25. "We are happy to help offset the normal $65 cost of these tests in the hope that lives will be saved by matching potential bone marrow donors with those in need", said First City Rotary President Mary Kowalczyk (ko-wall-sick). First City Rotary's contribution was made possible from proceeds of their annual 4th of July "Duck Race".

The Ketchikan Health Fair will be held on Friday, September 29th from 9am to 3pm, and Saturday, September 30th from 9am to 4pm at the Plaza Mall.

Those interested in participating may make an appointment by calling the Ketchikan Public Health Center at 225-4350.

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Ketchikan, Alaska