Temple Chai hosting bone marrow drive

Inspired by a young member of the congregation, Temple Chai in Long Grove is hosting a bone marrow registry drive on Sunday and asking residents to sign up for the list.

The drive will be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Temple Chai, 1670 Checker Road, Long Grove.

“There’s no greater gift we could give then to give a life, and this is a way to save lives,” said Lisa Hartman, social action chair for the temple. “All we’re asking people for right now is their time.”

The drive is inspired by 9-year-old Lacey Horwitch, of Northbrook, who has been hospitalized at Children’s Memorial in Chicago since Aug. 1, fighting a rare blood disorder.

“This is a third grader who has not set foot in the classroom this year, hasn’t even been out of the hospital since summer,” Hartman said. When Lacey is up to it, she paints pictures of rainbows to lighten up her room.

Although those who join the bone marrow registry on Sunday may not be able to directly help Lacey, Hartman said there are thousands of others like her who will benefit from having more people on the registry.

Donors must be between 18 and 60 and in generally good health. Hartman said the registry consists of a simple cheek swab, and donors stay on the registry until age 61. They’ll be contacted if they are a match for someone in need.

One of the myths Hartman is hoping to debunk with the drive is that bone marrow donation is incredibly painful, when oftentimes it is as simple as drawing blood.

“It’s not as scary or painful as people think. That’s what prevents people from being donors,” Hartman said. “The more people we can get on the registry the better.”