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COMMUNITY TURNS OUT FOR ABMDR'S FIRST WALK OF LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-10-18-community-turns-out-for-abmdr-s-first-walk-of-life-in-new-england-
Published: Thursday October 18, 2012
The Erebuni Armenian School Team.
Los Angeles - The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) held its
first walkathon in New England, drawing the support of the Armenian
community and local organizations.
Walk of Life, which took place in Watertown, Massachusetts, on
September 22, raised $10,000, including $3,000 from the Dana Farber
Cancer Institute of Boston, a longtime partner of ABMDR. According
to the organizing committee, the registry continues to receive
contributions from walkathon participants.
"We are very pleased with the turnout and the enthusiasm the walkathon
has generated in our community and among our supporters," said ABMDR
Board member Alvart Badalian.
Over 100 participants started their walk from the Armenian Cultural
and Educational Center on Nichols Avenue in Watertown, where committee
member Rubina Varjabedian welcomed everyone and thanked them for their
participation. "As you know, our mission at the registry is to help
save lives - lives of our loved ones, who are struck by leukemia or
similar blood disorders," she said.
"I know firsthand what it means for a family to go through the pain
and agony of such a disease," Varjabedian continued. "That is why my
husband and I have made a commitment to remain engaged in activities
such as the walkathon today." She then invited Father Raphael Andonian
of Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church and Father Arakel Aljalian,
pastor of St. James Armenian Church, to offer prayers before starting
the walk.
The 2.2-mile walkathon took the participants through historic streets
of Watertown, including Mount Auburn Street, to the town center, where
they joined the ABMDR table at the Watertown Faire on the Square,
held at Saltonstall Park. The annual fair, which attracts thousands
of visitors and features numerous vendors and organizations, was a
great finale for Walk of Life.
Commenting on the success of the event, Arlette Yegumians, a
member of the Armenian Business Network (ABN) Executive Committee,
said, "The ABN was proud to participate in the first Armenian Bone
Marrow Donor Registry walkathon in New England, a fun and extremely
well-executed event for a very worthy cause. We hope none of us ever
needs to be on the receiving end of this organization's good work,
but we are fortunate they are around, should any one of us need their
life-saving services."
As noted by the organizing committee, youth participation was
an important factor in the event's success. "This walkathon is a
great opportunity to teach the young generation to be active in the
community and to be a part of a greater good through involvement,"
said Armine Medzoian, principal of the Erebuni Armenian School, who
led a team of 11-12-year-old students at the walk. Along their trek,
participants made brief stops at the gates of St. Stephen's and St.
James Armenian churches, where youths placed flowers at the
Genocide-memorial monuments.
The walkathon program included the presentation of awards for
exceptional team effort. The awards comprised specially-made teddy
bears dressed in commemorative T-shirts and award ribbons. "Our awards
for the two winning teams come from the village of Berd in Armenia,"
announced Tamar Melkonian of the ABMDR support group during her closing
remarks at Saltonstall Park. "Berd Bears are handmade by the women of
Berd village, as part of a wonderful program run by the Berd Women's
Resource Center Foundation." Subsequently Melkonian presented the
Most Funds Raised Award to the ABN Team, and the Biggest Team Award
to the Belmont High School Armenian Club, in recognition of the large
turnout of its members.
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. For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or
visit abmdr.am.
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-10-18-community-turns-out-for-abmdr-s-first-walk-of-life-in-new-england-
Published: Thursday October 18, 2012
The Erebuni Armenian School Team.
Los Angeles - The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) held its
first walkathon in New England, drawing the support of the Armenian
community and local organizations.
Walk of Life, which took place in Watertown, Massachusetts, on
September 22, raised $10,000, including $3,000 from the Dana Farber
Cancer Institute of Boston, a longtime partner of ABMDR. According
to the organizing committee, the registry continues to receive
contributions from walkathon participants.
"We are very pleased with the turnout and the enthusiasm the walkathon
has generated in our community and among our supporters," said ABMDR
Board member Alvart Badalian.
Over 100 participants started their walk from the Armenian Cultural
and Educational Center on Nichols Avenue in Watertown, where committee
member Rubina Varjabedian welcomed everyone and thanked them for their
participation. "As you know, our mission at the registry is to help
save lives - lives of our loved ones, who are struck by leukemia or
similar blood disorders," she said.
"I know firsthand what it means for a family to go through the pain
and agony of such a disease," Varjabedian continued. "That is why my
husband and I have made a commitment to remain engaged in activities
such as the walkathon today." She then invited Father Raphael Andonian
of Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church and Father Arakel Aljalian,
pastor of St. James Armenian Church, to offer prayers before starting
the walk.
The 2.2-mile walkathon took the participants through historic streets
of Watertown, including Mount Auburn Street, to the town center, where
they joined the ABMDR table at the Watertown Faire on the Square,
held at Saltonstall Park. The annual fair, which attracts thousands
of visitors and features numerous vendors and organizations, was a
great finale for Walk of Life.
Commenting on the success of the event, Arlette Yegumians, a
member of the Armenian Business Network (ABN) Executive Committee,
said, "The ABN was proud to participate in the first Armenian Bone
Marrow Donor Registry walkathon in New England, a fun and extremely
well-executed event for a very worthy cause. We hope none of us ever
needs to be on the receiving end of this organization's good work,
but we are fortunate they are around, should any one of us need their
life-saving services."
As noted by the organizing committee, youth participation was
an important factor in the event's success. "This walkathon is a
great opportunity to teach the young generation to be active in the
community and to be a part of a greater good through involvement,"
said Armine Medzoian, principal of the Erebuni Armenian School, who
led a team of 11-12-year-old students at the walk. Along their trek,
participants made brief stops at the gates of St. Stephen's and St.
James Armenian churches, where youths placed flowers at the
Genocide-memorial monuments.
The walkathon program included the presentation of awards for
exceptional team effort. The awards comprised specially-made teddy
bears dressed in commemorative T-shirts and award ribbons. "Our awards
for the two winning teams come from the village of Berd in Armenia,"
announced Tamar Melkonian of the ABMDR support group during her closing
remarks at Saltonstall Park. "Berd Bears are handmade by the women of
Berd village, as part of a wonderful program run by the Berd Women's
Resource Center Foundation." Subsequently Melkonian presented the
Most Funds Raised Award to the ABN Team, and the Biggest Team Award
to the Belmont High School Armenian Club, in recognition of the large
turnout of its members.
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. For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or
visit abmdr.am.