Hundreds of people lined up on Sunday to see if they were a bone marrow donor match for 11-year-old Shannon Tavarez, who made her debut last fall as young Nala in 'The Lion King.'

The bright-eyed girl was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia in April.

"Every time I think about her, tears come to my eyes," family friend Olguine Noel, 37, told the New York Daily News.

"I believe I could be her donor," Grand Concourse, Bronx, resident Juan Hernanez, 49, told the News in Spanish. "Her dad is Dominican like me."

Bone marrow, which helps manufacture the components that make up blood, is used to treat 60 different diseases. Because the marrow needs to match the recipient's marrow, chances of a match increase when the donor is of the same ethnicity as the recipient.

Tavarez' ethnic background means it's harder for her to find a match. Her mother is African American.

Both groups are severely underrepresented when it comes to the ranks of bone marrow donors.

Only about 7 percent, or 600,000 of the 8 million registered marrow donors, are African American, according to the National Marrow Donor Program. But it's often more difficult to find a match for African Americans because of the diversity of our tissue type.



This case is reminiscent of the case of 6-year-old Jasmina Anema, who died in January after battling a deadly form of leukemia. Jasmina captured the nation's attention when she asked to meet President Barack Obama and he obliged.

Jasmina was able to find a perfect match, but the disease returned and eventually took her life.

People of color lined up to see whether their bone marrow matched Jasmina's as well. Both of these events are indications that blacks and Latinos need to step out of crisis mode when it comes to bone marrow donation.

Instead of just responding in a reactionary manner to sad cases, becoming a registered bone marrow donor should be something that we just do. We shouldn't wait for a family member or friend to be in need before we become concerned. There are adults who need transplants as well and most don't make it into the news.

Becoming a potential donor is simple. For people ages 18 to 60 who are in relatively good health, the process of signing up could not be easier. Once you register at Bethematch.org, the organization will send out a mail-in kit that will allow you to swab your cheek for a tissue sample.

For more than 70 percent of donors, the process is as simple as donating plasma. For those who do donate actual marrow, the procedure is safely and comfortably conducted under anesthesia.

"It's kind of a no-brainer -- it's just a Q-Tip in your mouth," said Randy Donaldson, 43, a former cast member in 'The Lion King' touring company.

We are making some progress. In 2009, more than 50,000 African Americans joined the national bone marrow registry and nearly 8,000 donated cord blood units.

That's not enough, though. We need more people to overcome their fears and distrust of the medical system. It's one of the easiest ways that we can help ourselves.

Another drive will be held Friday at the Minskoff Theatre, home of 'The Lion King.' Those interested in registering can have a donor kit mailed to them at getswabbed.org

Wearing a T-Shirt with Shannon's picture on the front and "Swab for Shannon" on the back, Odiney Brown, the 11-year-old's mother, said she was touched by the outpouring of support.

"It's such a wonderful feeling to know family, friends and strangers would come out," said Brown, 38.

Just imagine how she would feel if a match was found for her daughter.