NASCAR Drivers Promote Cord Blood Banking

Submitted by Adam Zuccato on Thu, 07/07/2011 - 09:38

July is Cord Blood Awareness Month and it seems that everyone is getting on board, helping to promote the benefits of cord blood banking. In Florida, NASCAR drivers set out to increase awareness of cord blood banking by reaching out to individuals in the area.

The drivers were planted outside of the Walt Disney Pavillion at the Florida Hospital to promote a new cord blood banking program. The program offers parents in Florida the chance to bank or donate their child's umbilical cord blood. It will be one of the first of its kind in the area. The program also encourages doctors to speak with expecting parents about their options for their child's cord blood.

Speaking at the event was Matthew Farrow, one of the world's first cord blood transplant recipients. He received a cord blood transplant in 1988 to help treat his Fanconi Anemia. Thanks to the procedure, he survived the often fatal disease and has lived to be 28-years-old.

He shared his story with those in attendance at the event, praising cord blood banking for saving his life. Farrow encourages parents to get informed about cord blood banking so that their child's cord blood could help to save a life someday.