What makes a hero? Signing up to donate bone marrow

Reporter Roger Chesley discusses the need for more people to join the Be The Match Registry in his article, “What makes a hero? Signing up to donate bone marrow.”

Chesley also shares the story of a transplant recipient Gary Smith Jr., a former basketball star at Hampton High School and a 2008 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His search for a matched donor helped add more than 800 new members to the Be The Match Registry and raised $5,000. Smith had a marrow transplant in December 2010, but sadly developed an infection and died last month at 26. However, his fight brought more donor awareness, and the transplant helped give him an extra year of life.