THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605240018
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 25 lines
After reading ``A life or death matter'' (editorial, May 17), I phoned the toll-free number listed to get information on becoming a bone-marrow donor.
I was told that if I were Caucasian, it would cost me $45 to have my bone marrow typed because the federal government has ceased to fund this program. The woman speaking to me indicated that there were ways around not having to pay, but they involve more time than most people either have or want to expend in the effort of being typed.
The program is still being funded for minorities, but the Red Cross representative I spoke with said this may soon cease, also. I assumed that support had been withdrawn because there is an overflow of Caucasian donors but was told this is not the case, that 2,000 people per day are searching for donors and 30 to 40 people per day die for the lack of a donor.
What a tragedy! I intend to write my representatives in Washington and demand that funding be reinstated, and I hope others will also.
JEN WILLIAMS
Virginia Beach, May 17, 1996 by CNB