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Tickle Me Elmo Auction - Sylvia Part 3

4/30/2012

December 1996...... I received a message from CSUN's Chicano Studies department that a man named Rafael saw me on TV and wanted to talk to me. He wanted me to organize drives for his 9-year old daughter Sasha, who was also in need of a bone marrow transplant. I was surprised and honored and did not hesitate to see what I could do. I called him back, and Sasha became part of my campaign against leukemia. Now, it was about connecting faces to this horrible cancer.

@ Puzzle Zoo with Rafael Caraveo and Channel 2

The most incredible thing about this entire leukemia/bone marrow disease is that we CAN save a life. It was second nature to me to continue this fight. Puzzle Zoo in Santa Monica donated a Tickle Me Elmo doll to Sylvia so she could auction it off to raise additional funds for bone marrow drives. Sylvia called me the day she found out and asked me to help..... Of course I would!!!

I called the Baka Boyz, the morning DJ's at Power 106fm, and they did not hesitate to help! Remember, Tickle Me Elmo was the hottest item around in 1996, and people were lining up for hours to get their hands on one!! We arrived at Puzzle Zoo and the media was all over it. We then headed to Power 106FM to auction the Elmo. Baka Boys worked their magic on the air, and it sold for $1700.00!! To this day, I am grateful for the love and support of so many who didn't even know Sylvia and came forward and never turned me down when I asked for help. Thank you Baka Boys for your genuine support, Corie Carvajal with the biggest heart in the world, and Channel 2's Carlos Granda for making this day a success!!

Sylvia and her son Mark Arenas

Eric V., Corie, and Nick V. Thank you for the love and support!

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Fight For Life Golf Tournament Fundraiser - Sylvia Part 2

4/30/2012

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I started as a volunteer to help save Sylvia's life. Sylvia battled breast cancer years prior and had now developed leukemia. She fought every step of the way of this terrible cancer, hoping to find "that one" person that would match her for the transplant. I continued to organized drives and help get the word out into the community. The LA County Sheriffs Department was hosting a celebrity golf tournament to raise money for future drives in Sylvia's honor, and I was personally invited by Sylvia as her guest.

At the luncheon, I was completely surprised when I was called up by Sherman Block and Sylvia to receive an award. I did not expect any recognition because I was the one that felt thankful to have met such an incredible, strong, and amazing woman. My beautiful award from the LA County's Sheriff Department for "Student Organizer" sits on my wall as a reminder that anyone can make a difference in the plight against cancer. I was deeply touched and grateful that Sylvia took me under her wings and never let go! I became a part of her and she of me. We developed an incredible friendship, and I stood by her side from that moment on.....

LA Sheriff Sherman Block and Sylvia presenting me with an award

Gil Carrillo, head detective on the Bruce Jenner
Night Stalker case.

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LA County Sheriff, Sylvia Smith - Part 1

4/29/2012

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Waiting to meet Sylvia with Steve (Sylvia's friend and LA Sheriff)

1996.....I was a student at CSU Northridge, and one night, I saw a news program that changed me forever. There was a story about a Latina LA County Sheriff in search of a bone marrow donor. Apparently, in order to be a match, you must have the same DNA make, up and the Latino population on the National Marrow Donor registry was very low in donors. I immediately went to the bone marrow drive the following day and didn't get to meet Sylvia, but I met her best friend, Patty. I was on a mission to organize bone marrow drives in her honor and began doing so with the first being done on campus, December 1996.

Meeting Sylvia for the first time

I was a Chicano Studies major and received much support from my department instantly. Dr. Rodolfo Acuña was my professor, mentor, and friend who assisted me greatly in getting the word out to my fellow Latino peers and professors. I started with posting flyers around CSUN, speaking in classrooms about the drive, and then went to the campus newspaper. I didn't want to disappoint Sylvia... I was going to meet her for the first time the day of the drive!!! I contacted local radio station, Power 106FM, and I was booked right away! I went to a local cookie bakery and the owner, Pam, donated individually wrapped heart shaped cookies with ribbon for the first 100 donors. I was determined to pull through for Sylvia.

100 Heart Shaped Cookies for the first 100 people who registered for the National Marrow Donor Program. (Donated by Pam, owner of Cookies by Design in Tarzana)

We had a very successful drive, registering over 300 bone marrow donors to help Sylvia or anyone else in need of a bone marrow transplant. My heart and soul went into trying to save Sylvia and others like her, Latino or not! I connected with Sylvia from the moment I saw her story on television and was overcome with emotion when I met her for the first time. We developed a friendship, and I continued to organize drives in her honor. I was a graduating senior, taking 21 units, working part time, and organizing drives came natural to me. Finding a location, contacting the Red Cross coordinator for dates, getting approval or filing insurance papers, and promoting the drives were all tedious activities!Creating and distributing flyers, contacting newspapers, radio stations, and the overall community was all a part of making a successful drive with high numbers. However, what I found to be most difficult was not organizing nor promoting. Rather, it was educating people about being on a national registry until the age of 65 and being committed to the program for anyone in need. Latinos in need of a bone marrow donor have less chances of acquiring one as opposed to other groups because the ratio of registered Latino donors in relation to other ethnicities tends to be very low . My goal? To register as many Latinos as possible to help as many people as possible! This was just the beginning.......

Baka Boyz from Power 106, supporting!!!

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First Post!

4/29/2012

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Tickle Me Elmo Auction - Sylvia Part 3

Fight For Life Golf Tournament Fundraiser - Sylvia Part 2

Gil Carrillo, head detective on the Bruce JennerNight Stalker case.

LA County Sheriff, Sylvia Smith - Part 1

First Post!

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Gil Carrillo, head detective on the Bruce Jenner
Night Stalker case.