Clairton Bears Support Aliquippa HS Star Fighting Cancer, Hold Bone Marrow Drive
CLAIRTON (KDKA) -- High school football fans lined up in Clairton on Friday night to help find a match for an Aliquippa High School football star who needs a life-saving bone marrow transplant.
Clairton fans always show up in numbers to support their beloved Bears, who are once again making a playoff run; but this week, they also contributed to a very worthy cause.
Before the game started, Clairton fans lined for a simple procedure that could help save a life. They registered to become bone marrow donors, swabbing the each side of their mouth for about 30-seconds.
It's all part of the effort to find a match for Aliquippa football star DiMantae Bronaugh who needs a bone marrow transplant. He's battling leukemia.
"We have a son that's on the team, and I couldn't imagine needing help and people not helping, so I try and pay it forward," said Zandra Robinson.
"I saw the announcement that they were going to do the bone marrow swabs and just decide that it would be a good thing to do," Leonard Robinson added.
Bronaugh is back at Children's Hospital after his leukemia returned in August. His only hope of surviving is a bone marrow transplant from someone who shares his African American ancestry.
"Only eight percent on the registry are African Americans," said Debbie Vehec, of Be A Match.
KDKA's Bob Allen: "How many African Americans could be in need?
Vehec: "A lot more than that."
Clairton football coach Wayne Wade Jr. even signed his name to the donor list.
"This is definitely more important. I'm glad that they are here tonight. I'm glad I had the opportunity to try to help this young man, and not only him, maybe others," said Wade.
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"I've had family that are fighting cancer, so I know what other family members are going through, so if I can help him, I can help him," Ashley Pompey said.
In additional to Clairton, there was another donation drive Friday at the Woodland Hills game in Turtle Creek. Samples will continue to be taken until a match is found for Bronaugh, and in hopes of helping others in need.