PLAINSBORO — A drive to find a matching bone marrow donor for a local leukemia patient will be held Sunday at the Walker Gordon Farm Clubhouse.
Jerald P. Hurwitz was diagnosed with acute leukemia the day before Thanksgiving, according to his wife, Rachelle Feldman Hurwitz. Diagnosed by the National Institute of Health, Mr. Hurwitz was hospitalized locally where he learned only days later that he had unique markers in his bone marrow and could be without a potential life saving match.
Ms. Hurwitz, West Windsor-Plainsboro school board member, has organized an event to try to find a matching bone marrow donor for her husband. Be The Match will be held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Walker Gordon Farm Club House,
Mr. Hurwitz, president of the Princeton Battlefield Society, is an Ashkenazi Jew, but displays unique Sephardic markers.
”Jerry’s difficulty finding a match has created an opportunity for people ages 18 to 44 to come forward and become part of something greater then themselves this holiday season,” Ms. Hurwitz said. “Unfortunately, Jerry’s situation lacking a matching sibling is not unusual with a one out of four probability. I hope all cultures will come out and have their mouth swabbed.”
While Mr. Hurwitz is in the hospital for his treatment the couple learned matches are especially difficult to locate for minorities, and they encourage everyone to come out on Sunday.
There is no charge for the event and becoming part of the National Marrow Donor Program for people between the ages of 18-44, but donations in Jerald Hurwitz’s name are appreciated. Donations can be made to Icla Da Silva Foundation Inc., 11-49 47th Ave., 2FL, Long Island City, NY 11101 or visit www.ida.org.
