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ABMDR Walkathon Marked By Strong Youth Participation, Fresh Support For Research
Friday, November 16th, 2012 | Posted by Contributor
http://asbarez.com/106621/abmdr-walkathon-marked-by-strong-youth-participation-fresh-support-for-research/
A scene from the ABMDR Walkathon
L.A. Armenian schools, organizations, and student associations walk
for life-saving mission
LOS ANGELES - On Saturday, October 20, hundreds of Angelenos took part
in Walk of Life 2012, the seventh annual walkathon of the Armenian
Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
The highly anticipated event drew strong youth participation, with
teams from several area Armenian schools, organizations, student
associations, and youth clubs in attendance. Also participating were
several dignitaries, including elected officials and community
leaders.
A 6-K walk-run event, Walk of Life helped raise awareness of health
issues while raising funds for vital research in immunogenetics, in
the ongoing quest to match bone marrow donors with patients suffering
from life-threatening blood-related illnesses worldwide.
Walk of Life kicked off with a festive opening ceremony at the plaza
of Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, in Glendale. In her
opening remarks, Walkathon Committee co-chair Dr. Stella Baghdasarian
said, `With your presence here today, all of you not only give us the
strength and determination to continue our quest to find donor matches
for our patients, but, most importantly, to show them that they're not
alone in their fight for their lives.'
Dr. Baghdasarian acknowledged the presence of the event's Honorary
Chairpersons and their representatives, including Prelate Moushegh
Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy, Primate Hovnan Derderian of the
Western Diocese, Minister Joseph D. Matossian of the Armenian
Evangelical Union of North America, Armenian Consul General Grigor
Hovhannisyan, Congressman Adam Schiff, State Senator Carol Liu, State
Assembly member Mike Gatto, Los Angeles Supervisor Michael Antonovich,
Glendale Mayor Frank Quintero, Burbank Mayor Dave Golonski, Glendale
City Council member Laura Friedman, and Glendale Unified School
District President Greg Krikorian.
Dr. Baghdasarian conveyed special gratitude to Glendale Memorial, a
Lifetime Supporter of ABMDR, and the hospital's vice-president of
Business Development, David Mauss.
On her part, Walkathon Committee co-chair Dr. Karoline Rostamian
thanked the numerous Armenian youth teams from Armenian schools and
universities, as well as the AGBU, AYF, and ACYO, for their volunteer
work and participation in the event. Dr. Rostamian also acknowledged
the continued support of the US Army Armenian Veterans before inviting
Dr. Frieda Jordan, president of ABMDR, to the podium.
`With every step that you'll be taking today, you'll give new hope to
a patient who is desperately seeking a life-saving bone marrow
transplant,' Dr. Jordan said. `It's thanks to all of you that ABMDR
continues to grow strong. I would like to thank Glendale Memorial
Hospital, without whose crucial support our work would not have been
possible. Glendale Memorial has sponsored Walk of Life for the past
seven years, and supported our various projects for the past 12
years.'
Next Dr. Jordan introduced Peter, a former cancer patient who has
undergone a bone marrow transplant through an ABMDR donor match.
Following Peter's inspirational remarks, Dr. Jordan invited Glendale
Mayor and longtime ABMDR supporter Frank Quintero to address the
audience.
Quintero, who has visited Armenia and witnessed first-hand the work of
registry at its Stem Cell Harvesting Center in Yerevan, said, `From
the moment I met Dr. Jordan some years ago, I knew she was on a
life-saving crusade and we all had to get onboard. There's no
substitute for what we're doing here today: which is to raise money
for research, and reaffirm our commitment to healthy living and
wellness.'
Among the walkathon participants, many of whom are registered with
ABMDR as potential bone marrow donors, was Lucinee Nazerian, a young
woman recently identified as a matched donor for a patient in
Australia. `Right now I'm waiting for the final go-ahead, and very
much looking forward to being of help to this patient,' Nazerian said.
The invocation of the walkathon was performed by Father Vazken
Atmajian, representing the Prelacy; fathers Mampre Kesabyan and
Haroutioun Tachejian, representing the Diocese; and Minister Joseph D.
Matossian.
The walkathon was preceded by an energetic warm-up session led by a
team from Total Woman. Subsequently the hundreds of participants
embarked on the walkathon, looping along a city trajectory that passed
by the Armenian Consulate on the corner of Central Avenue and
Lexington Boulevard. Consul General Grigor Hovhannisyan, another
longtime supporter of ABMDR, warmly saluted the procession.
The walk concluded at the Glendale Memorial plaza, where the community
celebration, featuring food, music, and dance, continued into the
afternoon. At this time, participants had the opportunity to join the
ranks of ABMDR at volunteer-staffed information and recruitment tents.
The program included an awards ceremony. The Kaloostian Family Team
(comprising Dr. William Kaloostian, father; and siblings and doctors
Carolyn, Paul, and Shane) was awarded for having raised the most
funds. The Kaloostian Family Team had joined the walkathon in memory
of wife and mother Dr. Aida Shirinian Kaloostian, who was a major
ABMDR supporter as well as a member of its Board. For the second year
in a row, the Chamlian School Team received a trophy for having the
highest number of participants, and Glendale Memorial Hospital was
awarded for being the major sponsor of Walk of Life for the past seven
years. Rima Matevosian accepted the award on behalf of the hospital.
About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry: Established in 1999,
ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians worldwide survive
life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching
donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date,
the registry has recruited over 22,000 donors in 16 countries across
four continents, identified 2,135 patients, and facilitated 13 bone
marrow transplants.
Friday, November 16th, 2012 | Posted by Contributor
http://asbarez.com/106621/abmdr-walkathon-marked-by-strong-youth-participation-fresh-support-for-research/
A scene from the ABMDR Walkathon
L.A. Armenian schools, organizations, and student associations walk
for life-saving mission
LOS ANGELES - On Saturday, October 20, hundreds of Angelenos took part
in Walk of Life 2012, the seventh annual walkathon of the Armenian
Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
The highly anticipated event drew strong youth participation, with
teams from several area Armenian schools, organizations, student
associations, and youth clubs in attendance. Also participating were
several dignitaries, including elected officials and community
leaders.
A 6-K walk-run event, Walk of Life helped raise awareness of health
issues while raising funds for vital research in immunogenetics, in
the ongoing quest to match bone marrow donors with patients suffering
from life-threatening blood-related illnesses worldwide.
Walk of Life kicked off with a festive opening ceremony at the plaza
of Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, in Glendale. In her
opening remarks, Walkathon Committee co-chair Dr. Stella Baghdasarian
said, `With your presence here today, all of you not only give us the
strength and determination to continue our quest to find donor matches
for our patients, but, most importantly, to show them that they're not
alone in their fight for their lives.'
Dr. Baghdasarian acknowledged the presence of the event's Honorary
Chairpersons and their representatives, including Prelate Moushegh
Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy, Primate Hovnan Derderian of the
Western Diocese, Minister Joseph D. Matossian of the Armenian
Evangelical Union of North America, Armenian Consul General Grigor
Hovhannisyan, Congressman Adam Schiff, State Senator Carol Liu, State
Assembly member Mike Gatto, Los Angeles Supervisor Michael Antonovich,
Glendale Mayor Frank Quintero, Burbank Mayor Dave Golonski, Glendale
City Council member Laura Friedman, and Glendale Unified School
District President Greg Krikorian.
Dr. Baghdasarian conveyed special gratitude to Glendale Memorial, a
Lifetime Supporter of ABMDR, and the hospital's vice-president of
Business Development, David Mauss.
On her part, Walkathon Committee co-chair Dr. Karoline Rostamian
thanked the numerous Armenian youth teams from Armenian schools and
universities, as well as the AGBU, AYF, and ACYO, for their volunteer
work and participation in the event. Dr. Rostamian also acknowledged
the continued support of the US Army Armenian Veterans before inviting
Dr. Frieda Jordan, president of ABMDR, to the podium.
`With every step that you'll be taking today, you'll give new hope to
a patient who is desperately seeking a life-saving bone marrow
transplant,' Dr. Jordan said. `It's thanks to all of you that ABMDR
continues to grow strong. I would like to thank Glendale Memorial
Hospital, without whose crucial support our work would not have been
possible. Glendale Memorial has sponsored Walk of Life for the past
seven years, and supported our various projects for the past 12
years.'
Next Dr. Jordan introduced Peter, a former cancer patient who has
undergone a bone marrow transplant through an ABMDR donor match.
Following Peter's inspirational remarks, Dr. Jordan invited Glendale
Mayor and longtime ABMDR supporter Frank Quintero to address the
audience.
Quintero, who has visited Armenia and witnessed first-hand the work of
registry at its Stem Cell Harvesting Center in Yerevan, said, `From
the moment I met Dr. Jordan some years ago, I knew she was on a
life-saving crusade and we all had to get onboard. There's no
substitute for what we're doing here today: which is to raise money
for research, and reaffirm our commitment to healthy living and
wellness.'
Among the walkathon participants, many of whom are registered with
ABMDR as potential bone marrow donors, was Lucinee Nazerian, a young
woman recently identified as a matched donor for a patient in
Australia. `Right now I'm waiting for the final go-ahead, and very
much looking forward to being of help to this patient,' Nazerian said.
The invocation of the walkathon was performed by Father Vazken
Atmajian, representing the Prelacy; fathers Mampre Kesabyan and
Haroutioun Tachejian, representing the Diocese; and Minister Joseph D.
Matossian.
The walkathon was preceded by an energetic warm-up session led by a
team from Total Woman. Subsequently the hundreds of participants
embarked on the walkathon, looping along a city trajectory that passed
by the Armenian Consulate on the corner of Central Avenue and
Lexington Boulevard. Consul General Grigor Hovhannisyan, another
longtime supporter of ABMDR, warmly saluted the procession.
The walk concluded at the Glendale Memorial plaza, where the community
celebration, featuring food, music, and dance, continued into the
afternoon. At this time, participants had the opportunity to join the
ranks of ABMDR at volunteer-staffed information and recruitment tents.
The program included an awards ceremony. The Kaloostian Family Team
(comprising Dr. William Kaloostian, father; and siblings and doctors
Carolyn, Paul, and Shane) was awarded for having raised the most
funds. The Kaloostian Family Team had joined the walkathon in memory
of wife and mother Dr. Aida Shirinian Kaloostian, who was a major
ABMDR supporter as well as a member of its Board. For the second year
in a row, the Chamlian School Team received a trophy for having the
highest number of participants, and Glendale Memorial Hospital was
awarded for being the major sponsor of Walk of Life for the past seven
years. Rima Matevosian accepted the award on behalf of the hospital.
About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry: Established in 1999,
ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians worldwide survive
life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching
donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date,
the registry has recruited over 22,000 donors in 16 countries across
four continents, identified 2,135 patients, and facilitated 13 bone
marrow transplants.