Family Thanks Chabad for Bone Marrow Drive

The Evan family of Massachusetts, whose mother has leukemia and is desperately searching for a bone marrow match, thanks the Chabad community for coming out in force to be tested on Motzei Shabbos.

Over 1,350 people were tested as bone marrow matches in locations in Crown Heights, Morristown, and Wellesley, Mass. Please pray for Devorah bas Sarah.

The Evan Family, Massachusetts

January 17, 2011

To the Crown Heights Chabad Community,

Our family has only recently become connected with the Chabad community thorough our chance introduction a few months ago to Rabbi Moshe Bleich in Wellesley, Massachusetts. The Rabbi immediately took up Melissa’s cause, whose need for a life saving stem cell transplant is now well known to many of you, thanks to the wildly successful stem cell drive that the Rabbi orchestrated at 770 and Beis Rivka this past Saturday night. It is through his selfless, devoted and tireless efforts that he has brought us to you, and we are overwhelmed and grateful for the flood of participation and enthusiasm. We never dreamed we would get over 1000 individual swabs this past weekend! This tremendous outpouring of support and friendship from complete strangers has left us humbled and full of hope.

While Rabbi Bleich has been the driving force behind the organization of numerous stem cell drives at Chabad houses around Massachusetts, Morristown, New Jersey and in Crown Heights, he could not have accomplished them without the enormous support of volunteers throughout the process, especially the more that 50 people that volunteered on Saturday. Particular thanks must given to Eli Senderovits (& the Lakewood crew) of Gift Of Life, Zaki Tamir of the CCJC, Yossi Friedman and all the Hatzolah volunteers, the Karp, Meer and Weingarten families, Tzvi Hirsh Altein (Beis Rivka drive), Rabbi Garlitzky and the rest of the Gaboim of 770, and lastly, Eric, Ishay & Joe of the WWC without whom the Rabbi would not have been able to make this drive nearly as successful. We were thrilled to be welcomed into the fabreingens on such an important date and while we continue to search for a possible match, the Rabbi is now talking about hosting a similar drive at the upcoming women’s event.

From the bottom of our hearts, the Evan Family would like to thank everyone who participated in and donated to the drive at 770, Beis Rivka and Morristown yeshivos. You have given Melissa and many others a chance at a lifesaving match.

Thanks to all for their continued support and prayers for Devorah bas Sarah,

The Evan Family