Category: Events

by Kelly Rogge

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa is sponsoring a Bone Marrow Registration Drive Nov. 19 on the KCKCC Main Campus.

This drive gives those individuals between the ages of 18-55 who are serious about wanting to save a life, a chance to register as a potential bone marrow donor.

The registration drive is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Wed., Nov. 19, in Lower Jewell building on the campus, 7250 State Ave. The drive is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa.

Blood cancer is the second leading cause of all cancer deaths in the United States and kills more children than any other disease. Many patients can be saved, however, with a bone marrow transplant – that is if they can find a matching donor.

Registration is free, fast and simple. Individuals who are at least 18-years-old and no more than 55-years-old and in good health can complete a brief registration form to be considered. A swab test from inside the mouth will also be conducted. The whole process should take less than 10 minutes.

Donors and patients should share at least eight HLA tissue characteristics to be considered a good match. There are more than 7,000 known HLA types that occur, making finding a potential donor difficult. The more donors who register, the greater chance a match will be made. After the registration process, the donor’s information will appear on a national registry. Once on this registry, indivudals must be willing to donate to anyone if there is a match. Information will remain on the registry until 61-years of age or until it is removed.

If selected, a representative from Delete Blood Cancer will be in contact to obtain further health-related information. Additional testing will also be completed to determine that you are the best possible match for the patient in need. The actual donation will be in the form of a peripheral blood stem cell donation or a marrow donation.

For those who wish to participate, but are unable to attend the registration drive, registration can also be completed online at deletebloodcancer.org. Delete Blood Cancer is the largest bone marrow donor center in the world, working to defeat blood cancer.

For more information on the Bone Marrow Registration Drive or to volunteer, contact Stacy Tucker, director of Honors Education-Phi Theta Kappa at KCKCC, at 913-288-7239.
Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at KCKCC.

Kidney screenings, flu vaccines and more are scheduled during 8th Street YMCA’s Health Fair. The fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at the YMCA, 900 N. 8th St., Kansas City, Kan.

Free kidney screenings, flu shots, weight and body mass index readings will be available, thanks to support from the National Kidney Foundation and Walgreens. In addition, general health and nutrition information will be available.

For November’s Diabetes Month, the National Kidney Foundation’s KEEP Healthy (Kidney Early Evaluation Program) will offer approximately 100 free kidney screenings at the health fair for those at risk for kidney disease. Diabetes is a major risk factor for kidney disease. According to the National Kidney Foundation, about 30 percent of patients with Type 1 (juvenile onset) diabetes and 10 to 40 percent of those with Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes eventually will suffer from kidney failure.

For the screening, participants will answer a brief health-risk survey and have their height, weight and blood pressure measured. Educational materials about the risk of developing chronic kidney disease, which afflicts one in three Americans, will also be provided.

During the health fair, families can also receive free flu shots through Walgreens. The Y will have 50 flu shot vouchers available for those that qualify. Those who do not have insurance will not qualify for a free vaccination but can still get one at the event using their insurance card.

YMCA representatives and other health professionals will have body mass index readings and will provide health and nutrition information and tips to lead a more healthy and active lifestyle.

Sandra Cvitanic Barrientos, nutritionist at the 8th Street YMCA, said this effort goes along with the multiple health and wellness initiatives the Y offers individuals and families, such as exercise, recreational activities for the entire family, and healthy cooking and nutrition classes.

For more information, call 913-321-9622 or visit www.kansascityymca.org/.

In the event of inclement weather, call first to see if the event will still be held.