Dave,

I LOVE IT!!!!! I read your story and love finally seeing your healthy face!!!! I work on an Air Force base with over 24,000 employees. I just learned that one of our senior leaders held a bone marrow drive. I asked my Deputy just this morning if I could head one up in the F-16 System Program Office where we work-she gave me the thumbs up!

With the anniversary of 9-11, I have seen many stories about our first responders (see link below) who are now suffering a VERY high percent of blood cancers due to the benzene in the fuel from the aircraft that crashed into the twin towers. This story highlights the need for more donors. We need to get the word our regarding how easy it is now with a blood draw vice pulling directly from the marrow.

God Bless all you do Dave!

Julie

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/09/11/11-first-responder-needs-hero-his-own-for-life-saving-transplant/

Dave J

What a great thing to do and of course I don't mind if you stole a line from me for it, as a matter of fact I would feel honored.

I will be sure to sign up for a money donation.

Take care

Karen

Dave,

This is an awesome idea!!! My sisters held a bone marrow drive in my honor with Be the Match. It was crazy successful. We got over 70 new bone marrow registrants and raised over $10,000! I'd spread your link, but my donation pool is tapped out. ;-)

I did want to mention how easy it is for friends and family members to hold a drive and raise money. This is an awesome thing you are doing and I hope more people on this forum look into it.

http://bethematch.org/Support-the-Cause/Participate/Host-a-donor-drive/

Good luck with your event! You are awesome!

DaveJ -- I want to commend you for taking this initiative. I wish I had the stamina to participate in something like this, but it is not in the cards for me -- I would become a liability real quick. I was just out and even in the cooler air, I only lasted about 20 minutes.

My son and daughter in law were involved in a walkathon effort up until they recently moved. I appreciate all of these efforts -- they all keep the momentum going in the right direction toward ultimately beating this beast. I will be praying for your efforts and those of the others as well -- daveB

thank you everyone. Lora, 10k is some kind of fundraising!! That is awesome, not me. dave, the cold does somewhat worry me, since my dx I haven't been as tolerant to the cold as I used to be. that and the fact that I don't have the "insulation" that I once had. But I've got lots of good clothes for the winter so it should be fine. Say a prayer for me on race day, there will be around 6000 riders to contend with. Thanks again.
davej

Dave- you continue to impress tony and I. Not only are you participating in a 30 mile bike race seven months post transplant but you've also decided to raise money for be the match, which being the wife of someone who needed a unrelated donors transplant, is beyond amazing to me!
Tony and I have discussed doing a bone marrow drive in the near future. his company thousands of employees and they are experts at fundraising events
I just donated to your page and shared it on social media hopefully it will catch some speed soon ;)
Best of luck and thank you for the constant inspiration you provide my husband!
Lea

I am absolutely impressed! Congrats and thank you for your story. Good luck with the ride and thanks for sharing.

Cecilia

Was out training last night and was thinking (I do my best thinking in the woods on the bike it seems) I have gotten lot of emails and such for old and new friends praising me but I certainly don't deserve it. my lord and savior Jesus Christ does, if not for all the support and prayers that I have had over the past 14 months I wouldn't even be here. I do appreciate all of you here and your support, with gods help maybe we can do some good with this.
davej

Amen Dave!!! Give almighty God all the glory, HE alone is worthy of our praise

Julie

just an update:

Thank you for your generous contribution to my charity sponsor for the Iceman Cometh Challenge I competed in Saturday. It is greatly appreciated and will help kids and adults get the match they need for bone marrow/stem cell transplants to treat their blood borne illnesses. Had I not done the transplant I likely wouldnt be here today and surely wouldnt have been able to ride a race. I ended up 88th of 130 in the Ice Bike Class (bikes with 26x3.8 tires or bigger) where there is no age category. I was really happy with that result and beat a bunch of people half my age. My age and experience actually helped me because the course conditions were the worst i have ever competed on, muddy beyond belief with rain, snow with rain, and sleet during the race. My gears were barely working and chain skipping, and lost my brakes from the mud grinding away the pads about 7 miles in (31.4 mile race). The highlight of the race (and maybe my entire 28 years of riding and racing) was at the biggest and steepest hill of race called Anitas Hill where the crowd gathers to watch people try to climb the hill. I started the climb with me being the only one left on my bike and maybe 75 or so riders off their bikes and walking up the hill. As I kept going the crowd just kept cheering louder and it was like just crested Alp De Heuz in the Tour De France when I got to the top of the climb. Its something I will never forget. They spectators were great.

Again thank you for contributing to Be the Match, you helped to save a life for someone needing at transplant for their Blood Borne Illness. Please check out this link for info on becoming a marrow/stem cell donor. It has my friend Ann explaining the process of becoming part of the world wide registry.

http://fox17online.com/2014/11/09/consider-donating-marrow-through-be-the-march-registry/

Thanks again everyone, I appreciate your support and kindness.

DaveJ

The lord was truly with me this day, thanks to everyone here for your support and prayers, there isn't a better group of people anywhere than right here on this board. Thank you.

DaveJ

DaveJ

Congrats on finishing the ride, I am so happy for you!

Karen

I think it's awesome you did this !! I volunteer with BeTheMatch with local donor drives and pray someone is matched with a donor like I was blessed with one in January 2013. Keep up the great work !

Dave- I love this post and am so proud of you!!!!!! You're an inspiration and a good friend, congrats!

Dave,

You inspire me, literally. After reading your post I got my lazy butt on the stair stepper. I am so proud of you. Praise God for providing the protection and strength to complete the race.

Blessings
Julie