by Lisa Colangelo
Family and friends of a gravely ill city firefighter who responded to the Sept. 11 terror attacks are looking for bone-marrow donors.
Firefighter Roy Chelsen, who was assigned to Engine Co. 28 in Manhattan, is suffering from multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer. He has received chemotherapy and blood transfusions and undergone surgery.
Doctors have said he needs a bone-marrow transplant from a matching donor to survive.
The New York Blood Center will hold several blood drives in support of Chelsen because bone marrow cancer patients need constant blood transfusions. Participants also can find out whether they are a potential match by signing up with the National Marrow Donor Program. The painless test involves swabbing the inside of your mouth.
A drive will be held tomorrow from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Warwick Fire Department Goodwill Hook & Ladder Co. Ladies Auxiliary, Church St. Extension in upstate Warwick.
Another drive will be held on Staten Island on Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Westerleigh Community Blood Drive at Zion Lutheran Church, 505 Watchogue Road.
Call (800) 933-2566 or visit the Web site - www.nybloodcenter.org - for more information.
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