8/15/2010: Bone Marrow Drive

State Senator Shirley L. Huntley (D-Jamaica)attended a bone marrow drive accompanied by rap impresario and entertainer Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. The event took place in Southeast Queens at 50’s Community Garden. The bone marrow drive was inspired by the story of 11-year-old leukemia patient, and Broadway’s Lion King star Shannon Tavarez. Unfortunately Shannon still hasn't found a bone marrow match, so when Senator Huntley heard of the event, she came out to register as a potential marrow donor. Senator Huntley also wanted to bring attention to the need for people to register and get swabbed to see if they could be candidates to donate marrow for Shannon and others suffering from leukemia. 50 Cent sponsored the registry through his G-Unity Foundation. The Senator and 50 agreed to team up again on this and other community projects in the future.