Be the Match is the subject of our Community Voices series all week.

BTM raises critical funds for people who have types of blood cancers and need transplants. Leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia are the most familiar. Seventy percent of people who have no family donor depend on the BTM registry to help them find a match.

Kimberly Christensen

Wednesday, we met Kimberly Christensen, a transplant recipient. In an interview at PRP.FM, she told us what it was like to face a blood cancer at the age of 16.

Click to hear the interview.

Kimberly Christensen with her dad Patrick and Rebecca at PRP.FM studio. Photo: Robert Parish

Kimberly Christensen with her dad Patrick and Rebecca at PRP.FM studio. Photo: Robert Parish

Earlier this week:

Our friends from Be the Match stopped by the PRP.FM studio to tell us about two important events: The BTM Portland Walk+Run, and Owen’s impending arrival.

BTM raises critical funds for people who have types of blood cancers and need transplants. Leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia are the most familiar. Seventy percent of people who have no family donor depend on the BTM registry to help them find a match.

You can help by participating in the upcoming Portland Walk+Run fundraiser July 13, 2014.

The Impact Your Donation Can Make:

  • $25 covers one clinic visit co-pay. Patients must visit the transplant clinic daily or weekly during their three to six months of outpatient recovery. Clinic co-pays can add up to $300 a month.
  • $50 covers two days of meals for a patient and their caregiver during outpatient recovery.
  • $100 covers the cost to add one potential marrow donor to the Be The Match Registry, giving more searching patients hope for a cure.
  • $250 covers 10 monthly prescription co-pays. Many patients take 20 or more medications per day during recovery – that’s $500 in prescription co-pays each month.
  • $500 provides two weeks of temporary housing during recovery. If patients live more than an hour away from the transplant center they are required to relocate and live nearby for the three to six months of recovery. Many families spend $800 to $1,500 a month on temporary housing, while also covering a mortgage back home.

Look more closely to the photo, snapped by Robert Parish when Liz Neihart and Kristi Bray came to PRP.FM this week. Can you find Owen?

From left, Kristi ray, Liz Neihart and Owen (baby bump), who is due any day now.

From left, Kristi ray, Liz Neihart and Owen (baby bump), who is due any day now.

Liz has promised to let us know when Owen, scheduled to make his debut any moment, arrives.

Click to hear the interview with Kristi and Liz.

Rebecca Webb
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