Bone marrow drive to be held Friday for Manhattan Beach mother
24Hr HomeCare will be partnering with the Save Nina campaign and A3M, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program, to sponsor a bone marrow testing drive at the 24Hr HomeCare Torrance offices Friday to find a bone marrow donor for Manhattan Beach resident Nina Polvanich Louie, who was diagnosed with lymphoma and has less than a month to find a match.
Nina Polvanich Louie was diagnosed with aggressive lymphoma last September, and has been searching for a bone marrow donor. Because of her Asian heritage, the search has been difficult. Friends and family members have banded together to launch the Save Nina campaign, which includes drives throughout Los Angeles in order to find a match.
“When we heard Nina’s story and the amazing things her friends and family are doing to help her, we immediately wanted to help,” said Ryan Iwamoto, owner and co-founder of 24Hr HomeCare. “We’re based in the South Bay and we have the manpower, so we wanted to do everything possible to help her find a match as quickly as possible.”
24Hr HomeCare is participating in the Save Nina campaign as part of their Community Involvement program, through which the company actively engages its employees in monthly volunteer activities, awareness campaigns and community event sponsorships. Through their annual cancer awareness campaigns, 24Hr HomeCare has raised thousands of dollars for organizations like the American Cancer Society.
“Our job as caregivers is to lend a helping hand to those who need it,” said Iwamoto. “That’s why we’ve made it a part of our mission to leave a positive impact on our communities by partnering with local organizations and participating in campaigns like Save Nina.”
The bone marrow typing process is quick and painless. Participants will fill out an application, have their cheeks swabbed and be notified if they are a match. The drive will be held on Friday, August 30 from 11 a.m. to 4p.m. in the parking lot of the 24Hr HomeCare offices in Torrance at 3812 Sepulveda Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505. Participants can enjoy free burgers provided by The Lobos Food Truck, and take photos in the free photo booth sponsored by Impressions Pod.
To learn more about the Save Nina campaign, please visit http://savenina.com/.