The Basque version of the Bone Marrow drive was instigated in 2008 with the initial hope of trying to save Sebastian Moustirats, a little Basque boy from San Francisco who was in desperate need of a bone marrow donor.  As you noted from the past-tense, "Sebby" did not make it.  The aim is to keep going with this, however, to hopefully minimize this outcome in the future.   We are trying to get many Basques to join the National Bone Marrow Registry.  It is quick and easy -- only a swab of the inner cheek.  It can help our Basque community if in the future there is someone who is in need.

Website for more information:  Join The Registry

Some Basque clubs/communities have helped to arrange a Bone Marrow Drive.  See if yours is able to help out as well.

BACKGROUND.  For a successful transplant, the tissue type of a bone marrow donor needs to match the patient’s as closely as possible.  The first place patients’ check for a donor is within their own family, but 70% of people will not have a suitable match within their family.  Because tissue types are inherited, patients are most likely to match someone of their own race or ethnicity.  Therefore, racial and ethnic heritage are very important factors. 

Currently, there is a critical shortage of bone marrow donors of Basque heritage.  This dramatically lowers the chances that a Basque person who needs a transplant will be able receive this life saving procedure. 

PROCESS.  The registration process is very easy: review medical eligibility, fill out a consent, contribute towards the tissue typing, and a swab of your cheek.

COST.  Typical cost is $52.00 per sample.  The entire process of tissue typing is expensive …if someone were to register privately it could be any where from $300- $1000. 

POSSIBLE ONLINE DRIVE.  Through the registration process on our website, marrow.org. This way we can track the donors who register in honor of Sebby and it would be a way for the people that are interested in joining to go through the process. They will be asked to make a financial contribution online and after filling in the online consent form a swab kit will be sent directly to them. This would alleviate any people power of doing a drive at the club…and if everyone is on board this might be a way to give those that are interested an opportunity to join.