Ma: Marrow Registry Needs Minorities

"When the Asian American Donor Program started, they had 123 registered Asians in the database. Today, there are about 5,890 Asians in the database, but clearly we need more," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

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Assemblywoman, Teen Highlight Need For Greater Minority Involvement

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The second princess of Miss Teen Asia is trying to get more minorities involved in the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Katie Cramer, who needs a bone marrow transplant because of leukemia, was at the Capitol on Wednesday to promote a bone marrow drive. The 16-year-old was adopted from China, so she has no biological family members who can donate to her.

So far, no one on the registry has matched with her, in part because of a lack of minorities on the registry.

"When the Asian American Donor Program started, they had 123 registered Asians in the database. Today, there are about 5,890 Asians in the database, but clearly we need more," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

Thursday's bone marrow drive is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Capitol. Anyone is welcome, and it only takes five minutes to register through a cheek swab.