South Asians Are One Of The Hardest Populations To Find Bone Marrow Matches #ManOfSteel

A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE PATEL FAMILY:
I am writing to you to ask for your help.  My 2 sons Ishaan (age 8) and Avinash (age 5) will be running in the Be The Match Walk + Run on 9/12/15 in memory of their uncle Rakesh "Rocky" Patel who recently passed from leukemia at only age 23. As you may know, South Asians are one of the hardest populations to find bone marrow matches for due to low representation in the national bone marrow registry and diverse genetic makeup.  The Be The Match Foundation matches potential bone marrow donors with cancer patients.  They also raise awareness, fund research, and conduct bone marrow donor drives.  For many, finding a successful match is their only chance for survival.  Due to funding cuts, this may be the last year that Be The Match will host this important fundraiser and life-saving bone marrow registry drive in Texas.  So we need your help. Our team is named #ManOfSteel because Rakesh was and still is our superhero.  He fought for 3 long years and never gave up.  This past March, Ishaan and Avinash completed the Be The Match run in Dallas, TX.  Our team was the top contributing team and the boys were the top contributing participants. Dallas was Rakesh's hometown so we were thankful we had the opportunity to honor his memory in his hometown.  He also attended the University of Houston and was a founder of the national championship winning Roarin' Raas team.  Truly, our superhero.  My boys, our Dallas family, our Houston family, and the University of Houston Roarin' Raas team will take part in the Be The Match Walk + Run on 9/12/15 in Sugarland, Texas.  We hope to honor his memory, raise awareness, and support those who are still fighting cancer today. This is such an important and worthy cause and is especially vital for the South Asian community. Please consider donating to support our team as we continue to grow our team and raise funds towards a cure. We need local sponsors such as you to step up and help us as we fight back against cancer. Ishaan and Avi are #ManOfSteel's team captains and they have made a video plea for help. Please take some time and check out their video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na62LgJLwHU&index=9&list=PLhvqVhE-5yfsR0X34EYRai077NzagKyPn

More information and donations can be made at: www.BeTheMatchFoundation.org/goto/Ish_Avi 
Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated.  We are trying to grow our team, spread this important message, and fund raise for this cause in Rakesh's memory.  No amount is too small.  Any amount makes a difference.  Please do not hesitate to contact me for questions. Thank you for your time. 
Sincerely,
Christina Cheng-Patel
email: c.cheng.patel@gmail.com
ph: 512-577-6478