Fort Totten to host marrow registry drive

The FDNY and Be the Match are co-hosting a blood marrow drive at Fort Totten on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. Photo via NYCgovparks.org

By Rachel Vick

The New York Blood Center and Be the Match are partnering for a series of drives to try and find a stem cell or marrow match for a 4-year-old with cancer.

Be The Match and the New York City Fire Department are hosting a registration drive at Fort Totten on Monday, Aug. 2 to try and find a match for Ayden, who has been diagnosed with leukemia.

“We are extremely grateful to our community for all of their support,” his father, an NYPD detective, said. “If you have the time, please stop by one of the drives to get tested as a match, you could save my son’s life or that of someone who is also looking for a transplant.”

Patients are more likely to have a match similar to their ethnic background; Ayden’s heritage includes genetic ties to Colombia, Puerto Rico and Guatemala.

The Glen Cove resident has not found a match in his family or existing donors in the BTM registry.

Interested community members can stop by the FDNY Academy from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.