Sept. 12 drive benefits leukemia patients

Last Updated on Friday, 03 September 2010 22:53 Written by Molly Young Friday, 03 September 2010 20:25

Flare File Photo of Jeremy CothamLONGVIEW: Potential marrow donors can lend a hand to leukemia patients by participating in a Sept. 12 drive. Donors could have a chance to help people like KC grad and former Flare sports editor Jeremy Cotham.

Leukemia is a bone marrow and blood cancer affecting more than 250,000 people in the United States, according to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Patients often need marrow or blood stem cell transplants to surviv e.

Cotham, a Longview resident, has acute leukemia. The cancer had been in remission, but he is now facing another round of chemotherapy after its return. Cotham is now in need of bone marrow and has a donor match in his sister.

"He's a lucky person," said Sharon Sanders, Because I Care board member.