Barnstable Police Sponsoring Bone Marrow Donor Registry Drive

BARNSTABLE – The Barnstable Police Department is doing their part to help save the lives of people battling blood cancer.

Officers are putting on a bone marrow donor registry drive today from 3 to 7 pm at the Barnstable Police Headquarters. The drive is in conjunction with the Rhode Island Blood Center and “Be The Match,” an organization associated with the National Marrow Donor Program.

Officer Josh Maloney is helping to organize the event after he registered a few years ago. His registration proved to be a match for a 6 year old boy.

“It’s a very easy decision to make,” Maloney said. “They call you and say ‘hey, there’s a kid that potentially is going to die,’ you can’t say no to that.”

Residents between the ages of 18 to 44 can participate. A cheek swab will be taken and the DNA will be put into a national database. One in every 500 people who register will prove to be a match for someone in need, according to officer Maloney.