Photos: Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department hosts a stem cell drive

Posted Sunday, June 25, 2023 12:13 am

Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department captain Kathy Musgrave, left, and Maybelline Amaya, a New York recruitment coordinator for Be The Match, handed out swab test kits to potential stem cell donors at the firehouse on June 14.

Keith Rossein/Herald photos

Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department Chief Joseph Gerrato, left, with Chris Dand’s parents, Kathleen and Robert Dand at the Be the Match stem cell donor drive.

Chris Dand was unable to attend the stem cell drive because he was too sick and in the hospital. However, his fellow Franklin Square & Munson firefighters are keeping his gear ready for when he returns.

Volunteers from the Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department gave a thumbs up for, hopefully, finding a match for Dand’s stem cell transplant.

By Ana Borruto

Chris Dand, a 25-year member of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department, is in need of a bone marrow transplant for his fight against a rare and aggressive cancer.

In a partnership with Be the Match, the fire department held a stem cell donor drive to help recruit potential donors on June 14.

Be the Match is a marrow registry operated by the National Marrow Donor Program. Representatives of the organization handed out saliva swab kits to drive attendees for testing compatibility.

The fire department reported roughly 150 people have used Dand’s QR code to join the registry so far. Around 60 joined the registry and swabbed using a test kit.

For those who would like to help Dand’s cause, continue to share the QR code on fsmfd.org or text ChrisDandTeam to 61474.

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Photos: Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department hosts a stem cell drive

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