Pocono News Section

Bone Marrow Donors Wanted

Bone Marrow Donors Wanted - Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 6:59PM EST

Sunday, Nov 18, 2007 @06:59pm EST
PECKVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY -

A special drive to help a local man find a matching bone marrow donor drew hundreds of potential donors Sunday.

Marie Collarini of Peckville explains, “My son in-law has been diagnosed with leukemia three years ago right after the birth of his third little boy. Right now he is in Fox Chase Hospital in Philadelphia fighting the leukemia.”

Eric Cole has had three bone marrow transplants from his sister and now he needs a new donor.

Dozens of people in Peckville showed up at the special drive to see if they might be a match, just by swabbing their cheek.

Many others came to offer money to help offset the cost of finding a match or the cost of treatment.

Cole is the father of three children and is well known and liked in the community.

Alice Kaplan, of the National Marrow Donor Program and Registry tells us, “It really is a matter of life and death for these patients, hoping some caring stranger will match and be willing and able to donate for them.”

Anyone interested in joining the National Marrow Donor Program registry you can find more information at

And if you would like to make a financial contribution to the Cole family make a check payable to:
Friends of Laura and Eric
Donor drive donation
931 Katherine Drive
Jessup, PA 18434