Dear Friends,

I am writing to you because one of the biggest lessons we have learned in our journey these past 18 months is how important it is to raise awareness and educate the public about the National Marrow Donor Program. Most people don't know it is something they can do and that being tested is as simple as giving a small vial of blood.

With 30,000 patients out there every year searching for a donor and 70% of them needing to turn towards the marrow registry...we need to constantly increase the number of donors to increase potential matches for patients like Amy with leukemia, and others with aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia and other life threatening blood related diseases.

Here is where you can help. One of our supporters would love to see us get on the Oprah show. Not just for Amy..but to raise awareness for all the patients looking for their marrow donor. Oprah reaches an incredible audience and has the power to motivate and move people into action.

Statistics speak for themselves...5 million on the Registry since 1987. Over the past 18 years...20,000 unrelated transplants performed, yet 30,000 looking each year. The statistics are against finding the match. The more donors we get registered..the better the odds of transplant and saving lives.

The plan is to have everyone we know and everyone you know...write a brief email to the show and encourage Oprah to do a program about the importance of the National Marrow Program and educating the public.

You can mention Amy's Army as an example of a small group trying to find a donor for Amy and helping others in the process. Please refer her to the website: www.amysarmy.org.You can mention any of the above statistics. A paragraph is all that is needed.

We want them to sit up and take notice. If 1000 emails were received the first week in April..that would be something for them to think about! Won't you please help us help so many in need.

Just click on this link... http://www.oprah.com/email/reach/email_showideas.jhtml and submit the idea for a show on The National Bone Marrow Donor Program.

Your help is greatly appreciated. If we all target our suggestions for the first week in April...we could have a huge impact. Please forward this email to everyone you know and let's continue to make a difference!

Thank you!

Lisa Katz
Pittsburgh, PA.
www.amysarmy.org