Locals Hope to Save lives of Two Teens Battling Cancer
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Updated: 10:52 PM Dec 6, 2009
Locals Hope to Save lives of Two Teens Battling Cancer
It's a one in 20,000 chance of finding a match, but residents in Butler County hope they can save the lives of two local teens battling cancer.
Posted: 6:05 PM Dec 5, 2009
Reporter: Rachel Collier
Email Address: Rachel.Collier@wbko.com
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You've probably heard the story of Robert Cunningham from Butler County. He won his battle against leukemia in 2007, and now needs a bone marrow transplant to win the fight again.

On top of that, another Morgantown teen was diagnosed with leukemia just last week. Butler County High School held a bone marrow registry drive was held in hopes of helping these two high school students.

A swab can save a life--if you can find a match. "It's very hard to find a match," said Betty Brown, Robert's grandmother. Robert Cunningham has had a relapse with leukemia and his grandmother is hoping for a miracle. "But somebody. Somebody somewhere matches.That's why we need so many people to come out to find that match," said Brown.

The community of Morgantown has come together in hopes of finding a match for Robert Cunningham and Raven Durbin, a junior at Butler County High, who was diagnosed with leukemia last week.

"I'm a mother and I'm a teacher, and I would want someone to come out for my children," said Terri Curry, who participated in the drive.

The goal is to find a match for a bone marrow transplant, and if not for the two high schoolers, then for someone, somewhere.

"Our hope for today is that at least one person is a match for anybody," said Ashton Fields, a volunteer, "It doesn't have to be Robert or Raven, it would be wonderful if it was, but as long as someone's a match for someone in the U.S."

Brenda Beasley can't donate bone marrow because of a medical condition, so she's sending notes of encouragement instead. "Let them know I care, and that they're in our prayers" said Beasley, "I'm hoping they both get better, I hope they both find a match, and I'm hoping that they live a happy, healthy life."

"That would be the most awesome thing to be a part of saving someone's life, to be their miracle and it might not even be them two, it might be someone else's miracle that you donated your bone marrow to."

According to the bone marrow donor registration website, the odds of finding a match is one in 20,000. The swab tests will provide DNA to find matches for patients needing a bone marrow transplant.



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