Man Seeks Marrow Donor

Jay Feinberg of West Orange, N.J., is looking for a bone marrow donor to save life. Today, Harvard students have the chance to help.

The Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel and the Red Cross will be running a blood drive from 3 to 8 p.m. today in an attempt to find a bone marrow match for Feinberg or any of the more than 9,000 people waiting for a life-saving donation.

"Everyone who gets tested will get placed on the National Register and get checked against every other person in the United States that is looking for a donor," said Rabbi Sally R. Finestone, the Hillel associate director.

Once potential donors are tested data on their bone marrow is permanently stored on the register and checked against all possible recipients.

Hillel, which will host the drive, is participating because studies have shown that marrow matches usually come from a donor in the same ethnic group.

Because Feinberg, 25, is a Jew of Eastern European decent, his marrow is likely to match with people of the same background.

Hillel held a similar drive for Feinberg last year. Although they did not find a match for Feinberg, the drive identified one person who served as a marrow donor.

"This is more significant than just one person," Said David A. Ganz '96, co-chair of Hillel's Social Action Committee. "[It's] not just a Jewish thing, everyone should be there."

Donors must be between the ages of 18 and 55 and in good health, according to the Red Cross.