Spelman Hosts Bone Marrow Drive for 11-Year-Old Battling Sickle Cell Anemia, Sept. 7

Update: Video from the great event will be posted on Saturday morning

Spelman College, Be The Match and 11Alive have partnered to host a bone marrow drive on the campus of Spelman College on Friday, Sept. 7 from 10 am-7:30 pm.  The purpose is to help shine a much needed spotlight on the need for more African-American bone marrow donors in general, and to find a donor specifically for Valaria Fenderson.

Valaria Fenderson is an 11-year-old Mableton resident who is battling sickle cell anemia and in need of a bone marrow match.  A recent announcement by Good Morning America's Robin Roberts that she herself, will receive a bone marrow donation from her sister shines a much needed spotlight on the process, but much more needs to be done within our communities to show the importance of donating blood and knowing your blood type.

During the bone marrow drive, Spelman College hopes to have a significant presence from not only Spelman students but also other students from the Atlanta University Center (Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Clark Atlanta University) as well as a host of community volunteers who will staff the event.