ABC's Roberts' illness spurs bone marrow registry growth
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: Robin Roberts attends the revealing of the 'Oscar's Red Carpet Live' hosts on 'Good Morning America' at ABC Studios on February 13, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Janette Pellegrini/Getty Images)
Copyright Getty Images
Posted: 06/26/2012
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By: Associated Press
NEW YORK - A national bone marrow donation registry says the rate of new registrants has more than doubled since ABC News' Robin Roberts said that she'll need a transplant.
The "Good Morning America" anchor is being treated for MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease. She will require a transplant this fall.
Roberts stopped by a registration drive at ABC News on Tuesday, watching co-host George Stephanopoulos and her boss, ABC News President Ben Sherwood, get swabbed to see if their bone marrow is a match for someone who needs a donation.
Jeffrey Chell, CEO of the registry Be The Match , said some 15,000 people had registered since Roberts announced her diagnosis on June 11. That's 11,200 more than they would normally receive in that period.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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