From the Readers

Dear Editor:

I am circling back with you (apologies for the delay) following our email discussion in December. When I last wrote to you, 16-yearold Roshlind was still searching for her bone marrow donor. On December 23rd, her family announced she would receive the Christmas gift she was hoping for – she has found her matched donor and is in preparation for a transplant.

I have been in touch with Filipino actor/singer Guji Lorenzana and he is going to be in the U.S. the week of January 20th. Would you be able to interview Guji in your studios about the need for more Filipinos to join the Be The Match registry?

Here’s the link to his PSA: https://www.facebook. com/BeAlrightCampaign/videos/ 363104821144421/ After his mom passed away from cancer Guji made it his lifelong mission to fight cancer. Teaming up with Be The Match and our partner AADP (Asian American Donor Program) is one of the ways he’s committing his life to helping others.

Can you please let me know what day you are able to conduct interviews? I can arrange to have Guji meet at your studios in Chicago. Do you think there would be an opportunity for a print article as well?

We are currently looking for donors on behalf of a 42-year-old Filipino father of two, Desimond Viray who is battling chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) for 10 years. Early treatments helped him into remission, but his doctors are now recommending a blood stem cell transplant to cure him. Only .4% of the Be The Match Registry is Filipino – and we know that patients are likely to find a matching donor from someone with a similar ethnic background.

Please let me know if we can schedule this interview so I can coordinate travel with Guji. Specific dates, times and location would be very helpful.

Kind Regards,

Erica Sevilla

Multicultural Public Relations Strategist

FROM THE EDITOR:

Via Times published Rosalind’s “Bone Marrow” appeal on our December 2018 issue. We help in raising awarenes in the bone marrow problem in this country, as so many patients are in need of help.

Dear Editor:

The new House of Representative is more pro-cannabis than ever. If you’re interested in what this means for legalization, I’d be happy to help with more info and people to interview.

For the first time, a majority (224 members) of the House of Representatives believes states should be able to set their own policy regarding recreational marijuana, though the Senate remains pretty much unchanged. The majority that supports medical marijuana has also increased from 244 representatives to 267.

This shift is the product of enthusiasm from voters and organizing/ registration by groups like the Cannabis Voter Project, which propelled these lawmakers into office.

If you’re interested in this story, I can introduce you to that organization’s director, Sam D’Arcangelo, who can provide a breakdown of support in Congress and comment on what we can expect to see from lawmakers in 2019 and candidates running for office in 2020. Let me know how I can help.

Thanks,

Rich DiGregorio

www.nisonco.com