Article By Shannon Foley, executive director of the Love Hope Strength Foundation
Photography by Britt Nemeth
Here’s how it works. From Bonnaroo, Lallapalooza, Austin City Limits, and the Mile High Music Festival to every concert at Red Rocks Ampitheatre and other concerts and venues small and large – LHS is signing people up to the national bone marrow registry. Why? As you read this there are more than 6,000 Americans alone looking for the match that could be their only hope of surviving cancers such as Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma and other diseases such as Sickle and Aplastic Anemia – just to name a few.
The myth about registration.
Registering to become a bone marrow donor is difficult, expensive and requires a blood test.
The truth about getting registered.
Registration requires a non-invasive cheek swab with a Q-tip and three minutes of paper work. Thanks to our partners such as DKMS, the cost to get registered is covered.
The myth about becoming a donor.
Becoming a donor poses a serious risk, and they painfully drill into your bones.
The truth about becoming a donor.
If you are called to be a donor, your doctor will choose one of two outpatient procedures. Eighty-five percent of the time it is as simple as giving platelets for a few hours.
The truth is music has the power to save lives. And LHS is proving it. In the last year alone, our efforts at music festivals resulted in 4,500 new registered donors and over 20 matches. The number of matches will only continue to grow over the years. That is why hundreds of musicians, businesses and individuals have all joined in chorus with a simple message: “Get on the List” to become a bone marrow donor!
LHS is also known for epic musical treks to the world’s most extreme locations to buy life saving equipment for cancer centers around the globe, resulting in documentaries such as Everest Rocks on MTV’s Palladia. It is all part of our overall mission of saving lives TODAY. “Getting on List” is the most simple, tangible way you can get involved now. If you are interested in throwing a benefit concert or volunteering at a festival this year, we welcome you in the fight against cancer! It all starts by visiting our website www.lovehopestrength.org.
See you at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Mile High Music Fest and more. Stop by the booth, get on the list and go rock that tattoo proudly!
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