Look To The Stars News: DKMS

Rihanna And Kylie Support Bone Marrow Gala

Mon, 11 May 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Rihanna attended the annual DKMS gala in New York last Thursday, May 7.

The singer attended the event to support Isabelle Huurman, the 6-year-old best friend of leukemia patient Jasmina Anema, who is in need of a bone marrow transplant.

The singer has been helping Jasmina find a donor since she saw a video of the girl’s story earlier this year.

“When I saw the video of Jasmina it broke my heart,” Rihanna told PEOPLE. "It is so unfair that for a black patient it’s so much harder to find a bone marrow match. Jasmina has acute leukemia and she needs a bone marrow transplant to live.

“Leukemia is the most common disease children in the U.S. die of and we need to change that. I urge everyone to sign up as a bone marrow donor with DKMS. If we have more donors, we can save more children like Jasmina.”

Rihanna presented Jasmina’s friend Isabelle a special award at Thrusday’s event.

“I am so honored to be here to present the ‘Links of Love’ award to Isabelle for all she has done for her best friend,” she said. “Thank you, Isabelle. Isabelle has spent time with Jasmina— she is awesome and absolutely worth fighting for. I also have to say she is lucky to have you. You’re an incredible best friend. And best friends are very, very, very important, the kind that we all would be lucky to have. You rock, Isabelle!”

Kylie Minogue also attended the event, after flicking the switch to change the lights of New York’s Empire State building red and white in aid of DKMS. The special ceremony honored the Coty-DKMS Linked Against Leukaemia partnership, which aims to encourage more bone marrow donations.

DKMS is an organization that connects bone marrow and stem cell donors with patients in need. With assistance from donors and patients, family and friends, DKMS has become the largest donor center in the world.

Rihanna Helps Girl Find Bone Marrow Donor

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Singer Rihanna is to help a sick young girl find a bone marrow donor.

Jasmina Anna Anema is a five year old girl from New York City who suffers from Leukaemia – the often fatal cancer of the blood. Without a donor, Jasmina will die.

“Leukemia is the most common disease children in the U.S. die of and we need to change that. I urge everyone to sign up as a bone marrow donor with [”DKMS":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/586-dkms]. If we have more donors, we can save more children like Jasmina."

Finding a bone marrow match for African-Americans is extremely difficult, as they are underrepresented on the donor registry. DKMS and Rihanna are urging more African-Americans to step up and donate to save lives.

“Finding a match is our only answer,” said Thea Amena, Jasmina’s mother. “We have to. And we want to bring awareness to this – not just for Jasmina, but for everyone with leukemia. I hope people come forward to help.”

This is not the first time Rihanna has helped find a bone marrow donor. Last February she helped find a donor to save the life of a New York mother, and she also performed at the DKMS gala fundraiser.

“I think DKMS is an incredible charity because you can really see the results,” said the singer.

For more information on how to become a donor, visit the DKMS website.

Cindy Crawford To Receive Honor

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:30:49 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The world’s largest marrow donor center will honor Cindy Crawford at a special event in May.

The second annual Linked Against Leukemia Gala will take place on May 7 in New York to raise money for the Deutsche Knochemarkspenderdatei (better known as the DKMS or German Bone Marrow Donor Center), an organization that boasts 1.6 million registered donors and has facilitated over 13,000 transplants. The Center is committed to the fight against leukemia, and recruits donors from every race and ethnicity to help blood cancer patients receive life-saving transplants.

The gala event will be hosted by actor Mario Cantone and will feature a cocktail reception, dinner, and a performance from platinum-selling recording artist Sarah Connor.

“I am thrilled to be part of this evening,” said Crawford, who will be honored for her humanitarian work. “This is a cause that is very close to my heart and I hope we are able to raise awareness and funds for DKMS.”

Last year’s gala featured a performance by Rihanna, who recently helped find a donor for a mother in New York suffering from leukemia and in dire need of a transplant.

“We are excited to be celebrating our second annual gala, and are grateful for the support we continue to receive,” said Katharina Harf, Executive President of DKMS. “More than 140,000 people in the US are diagnosed each year with life-threatening blood diseases, such as leukemia and lymphoma, and leukemia is the most common disease children in the US die of. Our goal is to raise funds so that we can recruit 30,000 new donors this year.”

Ticket prices for the event start at $1,000, and more information can be found at www.dkmsamerica.org.

Rihanna Performs for The Believe Foundation

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:15:13 -0000

Written by Regina Walton

Singer Rihanna created the Believe Foundation in 2006 to “ensure the health and well-being of our future leaders,” and is currently playing a series of charity shows to benefit her charity.

Two concerts have already taken place in Chicago and San Francisco, with another scheduled to take place on April 9th at the Highline Ballroom in New York City. Tickets are only available if you make a $100 minimum purchase of Escada’s latest fragrance, Moon Sparkle, at selected Macy’s Stores – Macy’s Herald Square, Staten Island and Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon, April 5th, 2008.

After the concerts Rihanna has a meet and greet with children from local charities and signed autographs.

The Believe Foundation is “committed to creating change in the lives of our youth by providing, educational, financial, social and medical support when and wherever it is needed.”

For more information on the April 9th Performance, visit the Highline Ballroom website.

Jennifer Lopez Seeking Bone Marrow Donors For Young Latina

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 19:23:13 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Jennifer Lopez is urging Hispanics to help save the life of a 29-year-old Latina. Janet Ovalles needs a transplant from a matching donor to survive, but there are no matches among the 10 million donors registered worldwide.

Ovalles hopes that Lopez can inspire people to help her. There will be bone marrow drives in New York on the 24th and 25th of February.

Look To The Stars News: DKMS

Rihanna And Kylie Support Bone Marrow Gala

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Rihanna Helps Girl Find Bone Marrow Donor

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