Dear Potential Donors,

Let me introduce myself. My name is Stefan Bewley. I'm a college senior here in Boston who donated bone marrow about six months ago. I'd like to tell you my story, in hopes that it might help you understand the wonderful possibilities of participating in a bone marrow drive.

About a year ago, I gave a blood sample in a bone marrow drive on campus. Honestly, I didn't think much of it. A friend of a friend was battling leukemia, so I felt the simple ten minutes that it took draw the blood was the least I could do. I forgot all about the marrow drive within a few months.

Then, six months ago, I received a call from the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute. They let me know that I was lucky enough to be a potential match for a leukemia patient. The magnitude of the situation didn't hit me until I went in for extra testing. All the nurses were treating me like a hero, but I hadn't done anything. I had merely donated ten minutes of my time.

The subsequent bone harvest was a quick, painless operation. My doctor answered all my questions and took the extra time to check in with me after the operation. Again, he was praising my "sacrifice". However, I saw it as an incredible opportunity. I was able to give a patient another shot at life by simply donating my time and my renewable bone marrow.

When I read the first letter that my patient's family sent me after he received the transplant, I felt that I had truly made a difference in this world (not a feeling that many people can brag about).

This is my purpose in writing this letter: for a ten minute donation of your time, you can obtain the opportunity to give the most wonderful gift imaginable. Most things in life can only be accomplished through a great deal of work; this is a chance to accomplish so much more with such little effort. I hope that you are able to take advantage of this opportunity.

Thanks, Stefan