SHOUT OUT: Andre's Get Well Message To His Lifelong Friend

Andre and Lester (a.k.a.: "Bucky") have been friends since they were little. He sent a message of support as the bone marrow transplant journey continues.

Bucky's Personal Message

After posting the message below on Facebook, Lester requested that this be shared with the Bucky2theBone Facebook page. It is also being shared via Twitter and Google+.

For those of you who do not know, a 100% matching marrow donor was found and preparation for his stem cell transplant is underway.

Please read his message below:

If there is a time in my life, where I need support, it is now. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and blessings through my difficult times & to continue prayers as I go into a more complicated and demanding part of my treatment.

I will be in the hospital at the University of Maryland Medical Center 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, Maryland, in the BMT Ward, on the ninth floor, in room 924 for the next month or so. If anyone wishes to come, they can under strict quarantine protocol, that they will advise you of when you get here.

Love You all and "Happy Holidays to All".

Lester Crockett, Jr.

VIDEO: Watatah's YouTube Zumba-Thon Promo

The Zumba-Thon is almost here, and Watatah has just posted a fantastic video to promote the event.

TV Coverage of the IAFF Local 36 BeTheMatch Donor Drive

NBC 4 Washington sent cameraman B.J. Forte to film the donor drive at the Firefighter's Union Hall on October 11th. Click here to view the report that aired on local news that evening.

SHOUT OUT: Get Well Wishes from Cousin Pam

One of the volunteers at the first Bucky2theBone

#BeTheMatch registration drive, was a family member 

who sent her best wishes to her cousin via video.

If you missed this event, you can join the registry online.

Click: https://join.bethematch.org/Bucky2theBone

The Vision for a Zumba-Thon plus a SHOUT-OUT from Watatah & Roze

Picture a Saturday morning, in a large indoor space, people come together for a cause and a cardio workout. No equipment is required; only music and movement will rule the day.

Zumba will work; let's do that!

Participants will pay admission and sign a release to access the exercise space. Funds collected will go to BeTheMatch.org and the signed releases (or a portion of the page they're printed on) will be used as entries for door prizes. Some identifier (i.e.: sticker or bracelet, etc.) will be given to each person once they have paid their admission and signed the form.

In a separate area, outside of the exercise room, some BeTheMatch registration tables will be set up. Anyone can find out more about bone marrow donation and decide if they want to join the registry, and they can do this at no charge.

Although all are invited to do both, those who come just to do Zumba are not obligated to join the registry, and those who come to join the registry are not obligated to pay admission to do Zumba.

When formulating this idea, Cheryl wanted to pitch the basics of it to her Zumba teacher (and international recording artist) Watatah Fiah Lion. Before she could finish telling him about her brother's health challenge, he volunteered to do the very idea she was about to request.

He named it a "Zumba-thon", and that is what will happen on November 7th in Silver Spring!

Since then, Cheryl's fellow #Zumba class member, Emily Kirby, presented the idea to the Woodlin Elementary School PTA, who generously donated the school gym for the function.

So, save the date and invite your friends. Come and workout for a good cause.

November 7th, 2015
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Admission: $10.00 for Adults
Woodlin Elementary School Gym
2101 Luzerne Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910

OCT 27TH UPDATE: Watatah Fiah Lion's music & choreography will be featured on Nov. 7, 2015.
Click here to see one of Watatah's routines from YouTube 
See his #Bucky2theBone shout-out, with Roze, below:

The WTOP Interview

The WTOP 103.5 FM interview began airing on Thursday, October 8th 

and coverage continued until the IAFF Local 36 event on October 11th.

Click here to hear audio of the first two stories that aired.

 Mary, Dimitri & Aimee

 Cheryl at the microphone

Cheryl, Mary, Dimitri & Aimee 

Mary, Cheryl & Aimee after the interview

SHOUT OUT: Lester's Former Coworker Sends A Message Of Support

While Lester's sister, Cheryl, was looking at the facility where the October 11th function will take place, a former firefighter, who happened to be at the Union Hall, shared some encouraging words, and some memories of when they worked together.

SHOUT OUT: Lester's Fellow Firefighters Send A Group Message

Lester Crockett's sister Cheryl stopped by for a visit to Engine Company 26 / Truck 15, which is the Brentwood Station in NE Washington, DC. (a.k.a.: THE FARM). They received her like family. Here is video recorded during her visit.

In this video: Firefighters Dennis, Adam, Solito, The Captain, Tate, Caddington, Miller R.B.and _____

SHOUT OUT: John of Vicino's in Silver Spring, MD

John is an award-winning chef in the Washington, DC area. His Silver Spring restaurant has been popular for decades, while other nearby eateries have come and gone.

On a busy evening, with live jazz being performed downstairs, he took time to send Lester his best wishes and prepare a generous gift certificate, which will be awarded as a door prize on October 11th. Will you be there?

Click here to see details of the event on this blog.

Click here to view the invite on Facebook.

Cheryl's Journey - The Banner Revealed

OCTOBER 3RD

Most of my trips to visit my brother in the hospital have happened during daylight hours, or at least, they began during the daytime. And I've made enough of these trips to have lost count. But this one was my first evening trip.

Unfamiliar with where the free, off-hours parking might be, I took a chance on finding a spot on the street. Most empty spaces were at least three blocks away from my destination. There was no way I was going for a three block walk, in an unfamiliar city, on a Saturday night.

The one-way streets guided me on an adventure a bit farther away than I was willing to look. Suddenly, a strange sounding horn honked at me from behind. The Baltimore MTA street-car was approaching and I was in its path. OK, this was a street I did not want to drive on. I decided to avoid any street that was perforated with those metal tracks.

A very light rain was falling as I waited for the light to change, I noticed what looked like a bag of trash lying on the sidewalk in front of the transit shelter. I inched forward to get a closer look. It was a person curled up in a fetal position, clothed completely in black. I couldn't see a face or a head, just the lump of humanity with two legs sticking out; the back of a left athletic shoe was neatly stacked on top of the right one. At least part of the motionless form was being soaked by the rainfall.

I reached for my phone to dial 9-1-1 and didn't notice the green light in front of me until the street-car driver started to honk again. After giving my details to the police, I figured I had seen enough and should retreat to the safety of the $8.00 parking lot I had always used.

Gathering most of what I planned to take up to my brother's room, I grabbed the vinyl banner I had made to display at our outdoor campus function which had been cancelled due to the rainy weather. He didn't know anything about it, so I thought it would be a happy surprise. When a loved one has a dire diagnosis, happy moments are worth more than platinum-plated gold.

Entering a room full of laughter and smiles, I greeted my brother, sister-in-law and family friend, then immediately unfurled my rolled tube. I should have taken a picture of his face when he first saw it. He gave me a big smile.

"How much did you pay for this?" he asked.

"Why are you asking me that?" I replied.

"I want to get 10 more of them!"

I realized he must be joking, but his comment confirmed he liked it. We all knew it would be leaving with me. Designed to be an eye-catching marker for our cause, it is intended to be on display at each of our Be The Match functions.

Originally, I was in the photograph, standing to his right; I cropped what little there is to see of myself out of the frame. I thought I saw him smile when pictures were taken. When I asked him to send me one to put online, there was no smile. You'll just have to take my word for it: I saw him smile. Nothing else that happened that day, whether good or bad, was more important.

I guess, if I was sick and about to put a picture of myself out for concerned friends and family to see, a smile might convey a misleading message.

VIDEO: Sometimes Patients Meet Their Life-Saving Bone Marrow Donors

This is a touching story of a patient who got to 

meet the bone marrow donor who saved his life.

#Bucky2theBone #BeTheMatch

#BoneMarrow #MyelodysplasticSyndrome

SHOUT OUT: Laurel & Conrad Bassett's Get-Well Wishes

Laurel & Conrad Bassett send their Get Well

message to Lester for #Bucky2theBone.

Bucky2theBone at Howard University's Homecoming

Bucky2theBone's presence at Howard University's Homecoming Yardfest
HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS

October 2, 2015

Noon - 6:00 P.M.

On the yard (between the Library and the Blackburn Center)

We will be helping students swab their cheeks on the main campus.

Meet us and bring others aged 18-44 who want to join the #BeTheMatch registry.

Special thanks to D. Christie Burnett (family friend) and Laura Jack (of Howard University), who brought the vision to fruition!

Photos on Twitter and Facebook will publicize the Bucky2theBone tent location.

Find us using these hashtags together: #Bucky2theBone #HUHomecoming15 @BisonHomecoming

See this event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1498969393761370/
If you can't wait to join the Be The Match Registry? Click: http://join.bethematch.org/Bucky2theBone.

The No. 5, 6 & 7 WAYS YOU CAN HELP: CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY

Be The Match relies on financial contributions to help cover the $100 cost
associated with adding each new member to the registry.

5. IN PERSON DONATIONS - 

6. DONATE ONLINE: Save a stamp and make a donation today
         to Bucky2theBone Page: http://bit.ly/1JfNA0l 

7. DONATIONS BY MAIL: 

Mae your checks out to:

         "Be The Match Foundation" (please put "Bucky2theBone" in the memo line)

Mail them to:

          Be the Match  Mid-Atlantic

          ATTN: Aimee Haskew

          P.O. Box 1013

          Carlisle, PA 17013

Contributions of any amount will make a big difference.

Now that you know all 7 ways to help, you can pick which ones work best for you!

Click here for our Google+ Community.

Click here for our Facebook Page.

Click here to search #Bucky2theBone on Twitter.

SHOUT OUT: Kristle's Well-Wishes for Bucky from the Odyssey

Kristle thought of Bucky on her birthday!

#Bucky2theBone

The Bucky2theBone Logo

An online artist Bucky's sister found on fiverr.com created this custom logo for #Bucky2theBone.
After all, there may be a T-shirt or beverage mug, or two in the near future. You know you want one!

By AntonClevela97 (from Indonesia):

Our First Bucky2theBone Marrow Donor Registry Drive

When you know someone is a "Junior", there must have been a "Senior" at some point. Lester Crockett, Jr., "Bucky" of #Bucky2theBone, is the son of Lester Crockett, Sr. who would have been 92 years old today. Today is our first time marking his birth date without him.

The anniversary of his death has added significance because it will be the day of our #BeTheMatch bone marrow donor registry drive. While we remember Lester Senior, we will also give new hope to his son and the many others we will potentially be helping as we register new potential marrow donors.

Please join us:

October 11, 2015
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

IAFF Local 36
2120 Bladensburg Road, NE Suite 210
Washington, DC

This is a Registration Drive & Fundraiser to take place during the Redskins @ Falcons game.
We will be signing up anyone aged 18-44 who come to register. We will also receive monetary donations to #BeTheMatch

THERE IS NO ADMISSION AND NO CHARGE TO JOIN THE DONOR REGISTRY.

If you are outside of the 18-44 age range, please invite and bring those you know who are in this age group, as many as are willing to join the registry and hopefully save a life. If you are not a match for Bucky, you may be a match for someone else.

The Vision for an Event on the Howard University Campus

A #Bucky2theBone team member has been reaching out to Howard University to arrange an event on-campus, possibly during homecoming. The purpose would be to raise awareness and boost enrollment in the Bone Bone Marrow Donor Registry. The primary goal of holding a campaign targeted to college students is to add willing registrants to #BeTheMatch who will potentially save lives.

Because first-time undergraduate college students are between the ages of 18 and 22, they are newly eligible to join the registry. They're on the early side of the age range from which the most compatible matches are found. And because donors are retired from the registry at the age of 60, those who join, early in life, will be eligible to donate for a longer period.

Bone marrow donations by those in the 18-44 age group pose the lowest risk of rejection by the recipient. That's why there is no charge for members of this age group to join the registry at an in-person event.

To add to the good news, any #HUBison who want to join the #BeTheMatch registry will be very happy to know that NO NEEDLES are involved. All that is required is some paperwork and a cheek swab!

There is a fundraising component to this drive because there is an expense associated with adding new donors to the registry. And while this is not the main focus of this campus campaign, donations will be accepted. BeTheMatch.org is a nonprofit organization, so all monetary contributions are tax deductible.

Another very important reason for bringing #Bucky2theBone to the Howard University Community is that it is a "Historically Black College/University". Of all the minorities registered as bone marrow donors, At 7%, African-Americans make up the smallest percentage of the registry by race/ethnicity. This may be due to the widespread misinformation circulating about marrow donation in the black community.

Reaching younger people sooner with the truth about joining the registry and the donation process,
will increase the chances of changing this dismal statistic in a positive direction.

Lester Crockett, Jr. (a.k.a.: "Bucky") is the firefighter, for whom this drive is being organized. His firehouse is located in a section of Washington, DC, just east of Howard University's main campus. He was diagnosed with MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome).

A bone marrow transplant will save his life.

Special thanks to D. Christie Burnett, Esq. for her continued hard work to bring this donor drive to fruition.

Bone Marror Donor Statistics - By Race / Ethnicity

The chart below shows why #Bucky2theBone is important.

Finding marrow matches is a big challenge for Blacks or African-Americans. This is due the variety of races that combine in Black families, and the low level of participation with the #BeTheMatch Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

During our campaign, we hope to get these numbers to change, in the right direction!

While Lester's family has a unique mix of Black, White and Native American, all are invited to register in his honor, regardless of race.

Our Zumba-Thon will be November 7, 2015 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Woodlin Elementary School Gym 2101 Luzerne Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910. Click here for more information.

If you cannot attend, but want to support BeTheMatch in honor of Lester Crockett, Jr. (a.k.a.: "Bucky"), click here to make a financial contribution.

And click here to join the bone marrow donor registry online.

Thank you for your support.

Graphic source: #BeTheMatch: https://bethematch.org/…/Mat…/Why-race-and-ethnicity-matter/

VIDEO: DON'T FALL FOR THE MYTHS ABOUT MARROW DONATION

MYTH: "Donating marrow is painful and it takes a long time to recover".
TRUTH: "Most donations are via stem cells in a procedure much like donating blood.
This video explains.

Are you ready to save a life? Join the #BeTheMatch Bone Marrow Registry today!
#Bucky2theBone

The No. 3 & 4 WAYS YOU CAN HELP: REGISTER TO BE A BONE MARROW DONOR

HERE ARE THE NEXT 2 WAYS YOU CAN HELP THE CROCKETT FAMILY & SAVE A LIFE:

3. IN PERSON REGISTRATION - If you are 18-44 years old, come to our in-person registration and get your cheek swabbed; there are NO NEEDLES! Complete the paperwork (less than 10 minutes) and you are registered!
The first #Bucky2theBone registration drive is scheduled for October 11, 2015
at the International Association of Firefighters

IAFF, Local 36 2120 Bladensburg Road, Suite 210
Washington, DC 20018

If you cannot attend in person, you may register online (see #4).

4. ONLINE REGISTRATION: If you are aged 45-60, you may join #BeTheMatch online at:  http://join.bethematch.org/Bucky2theBone.

SEARCHING TOO: Josh's Story

Josh has sickle cell anemia. His only chance for a cure is a bone marrow transplant. He has been waiting for a compatible donor for a few years. His search is more challenging because of his African American heritage.

Patients are most likely to match donors with the same ancestry, but African Americans make up only 7% of the Be The Match Registry. The power to change this dismal statistic is in your hands. Join the #BeTheMatch Bone Marrow Donor Registry today.

You can join in person at the #Bucky2theBone donor registration drive on October 11, 2015, or join online right now.

Please help us spread the word about the need for more marrow donors. Thanks!

THE No. 2 WAY YOU CAN HELP

EDUCATE YOURSELF about how easy it is to register as a bone marrow donor, and how marrow donation works. Medical technology has advanced to the point where the process of giving and receiving a bone marrow donation is much easier, and less invasive to both the donor and recipient.
People are quick to tell you about when "Cousin Emma-Sue" or "Uncle Roscoe" donated marrow, way back in the 80's. Or they may want to tell you about that friend of a friend, whom they've never met, and the details are outdated and unreliable, at best.
The Bone Marrow Donor Registry is named BeTheMatch.org. They research and publish information to assist patients and prospective donors. You will find some of this information here, on #Bucky2theBone, to assist you with making the very important decision to join the registry.
And when you do decide, you can take the next step by clicking right here.

Click here for the #1 Way You Can Help.

VIDEO: The History of the Bone Marrow Donor Registry

Bucky needs a marrow transplant to cure his MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome). As we began the search for a life-saving, compatible marrow donor, we learned that African-American patients have a more difficult time finding their match. This is due to their genetic diversity, and.the low numbers of African Americans registered with #BeTheMatch.

Do you have a diverse heritage? Are you willing to help any patient who is searching for the match that will save their life? Are you 18-44 years old? Then join the BeTheMatch Registry in Bucky's honor, today.

http://join.bethematch.org/Bucky2theBone

THE No. 1 WAY YOU CAN HELP

SPREAD THE WORD - Would you please help us raise awareness? Although BeTheMatch is looking for racially diverse individuals aged 18 - 44 to find a match for Bucky, his family wants to make it clear: everyone is invited to our registration drives. If you're not a match for Bucky, you might be a match for another searching patient. Or, you may be the one who connects us with the person who will #BeTheMatch!

So, please
  -  Tell your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, employees, your house of worship, etc.
  -  Use the hashtag #Bucky2theBone on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. so all of your followers know you are helping to save a life. They will be inspired to do the same.

Please Like and share the #Bucky2theBone Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Bucky2thebone

Click here for the No. 2 Way You Can Help

SEARCHING TOO: Sheldon's Story

Sheldon attends college at a University in North Carolina. He needs a bone marrow transplant, but has not yet found a match. Everyone who signs up to be a bone marrow donor can potentially save the life of any searching patient.

The #Bucky2theBone online drive is in place. To join the #BeTheMatch Registry, sign up at:
http://join.bethematch.org/Bucky2theBone. Click here.

You might just be the compatible match for someone, like Sheldon.

Cheryl's Journey - Before I Found Out

JULY 10TH

My hair was done. All I needed to do was get dressed and go. The invitation said it was a Surprise Baby Shower with a Prom Theme. I guessed that was so they could get the men involved in an event usually known as a women-only function.

We were all told to bring a date. I had two prospects; none came through for me. So, I went stag. It was their loss. I looked good in my new dress.

I arrived at the facility fashionably late, but before the guest of honor (and that's all that matters with a surprise party). My parking space was a block away, but I noticed another lady, who knew me well enough to be my friend on Facebook. She had arrived and parked nearby, right after I did. I figured we could walk to the party together and chat, but she bustled ahead of me after our brief “hello’s”. Sometimes, it feels like rejection; other times, well maybe she had something to do that was supposed to be done half-an-hour ago.

The reception I got when I walked into the party more than made up for feeling alone outside. So many familiar faces, seemingly from forever ago, were suddenly in front of me, smiling and looking at me as though they were as happy to see me as I was to see them.

Checking my phone, I noticed a missed call while going through the buffet line. My brother and I had been playing phone tag. Earlier, I had seen this troublesome number on my caller ID, without a voicemail message. It was from the hospital. Only one person has ever called me from that number: him.

He called again from his cell phone and I answered. But the music was so loud, I hurried out onto the deck that overlooked a large pool. Little children squealed as they got in their final splashes before the lifeguard closed things down for the night. I could still hear him.

Almost immediately, I loud electronic hum was on my line. I had never heard it before, I walked around, hoping the sound quality would improve, but I couldn't get rid of that hum. My brother gave up and said he would talk to me later. At least I had heard his voice. I thought that meant he was OK.

Welcome to Bucky2theBone

Lester N. Crockett, Jr. is a firefighter in Washington, D.C. who now needs the community he has served for 19 years to help him find a compatible bone marrow donor. This website is operated  by a member of the Crockett family. Are you ready to #BeTheMatch? Join the Bone Marrow Donor Registry Today!

Please click here to join the bone marrow donor registry in honor of this local hero.