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1,195 Team Shaw members register to save lives

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Shaw hosted a five day C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense marrow program registration here during the week of March 18, where 1,195 Team Shaw members registered to donate either bone marrow and/or stem cells.

Roughly 25 designated personnel went around their groups and squadrons to encourage military and civilian members to register for the program.

"When I received the call that my recipient was on path to her recovery, the feeling I had motivated me to take advantage of the opportunity we had at Shaw," said Capt. Neal Wendt, 609th Air Communications Squadron director of operations. "I knew that I could impact the whole base on a large scale, and that's the reason we started the drive."

"I've always been into donating," explained Airman 1st Class JT Owens, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member. "My mom has had three types of cancer so I've always been into helping people in any way I can."

Many members of Team Shaw registered for different reasons.

"I've had to deal with hospitalization and understand the importance of helping others when in need," explained Daniel Brown, husband of Staff Sgt. Amanda Brown, Detachment 1, 31st Intelligence Squadron tactical linguist.

"If anyone gets called as being a match, they will be given the option to still donate," Wendt said. "I strongly encourage to at least go for the blood test. Many people go in for a preliminary blood test but do not get chosen to actually donate," he continued.

If the blood test comes back and the registrant is an actual match, the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense will instruct him/her of what they'll need to do, said Wendt.

Anyone who missed out on the registration may contact Wendt for a registration kit at neal.wendt@afcent.af.mil.