We are now able to offer the testing that places potential donors on the National Registry at your convenience, without waiting for a testing drive to take place in your area. Simply call 802.747.6267 or 802.747.1831 and tell us you’d like to join the National Bone Marrow Registry. We’ll send you the health screening and consent form, along with information about the procedure and about our program. When you've read the information and completely filled out the form, give us a call again to schedule a time to meet with someone to do your cheek swab. We’ll go over your form, give you a chance to ask any questions you may have, and then help you do the cheek swab. This procedure takes approximately 10 minutes. You will then be on the National Bone Marrow Registry, and may be the one to save someone’s life. You may Be Someone’s Hero!

Marrow Donor Program

The Marrow Donor Program at Rutland Regional was established in 1998. Since then, we have successfully added over 1800 potential donors to the National Registry, helping to give hope to the more than 6,000 people searching every day for an unrelated match to save their lives. RRMC is currently the only hospital in New England with this type of program. Our mission is to add potential donors to the National Registry at no cost to the donor.

Together with our affiliate groups (The Champlain Valley Marrow Donor Program and The Windsor County Marrow Donor Program) we are able to provide testing drives to people from many areas of Vermont, as well as many different ethnic groups.

The purpose of conducting a marrow drive is to add potential marrow donors to the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. A bone marrow drive consists of potential donors swabbing the inside of their cheek. The process takes less than 15 minutes. Volunteer donors must be between the ages of 18 & 60 and in good general health. There are some health restrictions, such as heart problems, spinal disc problems and some types of previous cancers.

RRMC does not hold patient-focused drives. All donors tested through our program must agree to be placed on the National Registry as a potential donor for anyone.

There is especially a critical need for donors within the following ethnic groups: African American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino and Native American.

Please contact us if you are interested in more information about holding a drive in your town or workplace, to become a sponsor, or to register for an upcoming drive. Call or email: Kerry Ellis, RRMC, 802.747.6267, kellis@rrmc.org, Irene Dazzi, RRMC 802.747.1649, idazzi@rrmc.org,  or Linda McKenna, 802.747.1831, lmckenna@rrmc.org .   

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