Funds have been secured to cover the cost of at least 60 persons willing

to have a special blood test at a blood drive in Peachtree City Wednesday

so they can become potential bone marrow donors.

The blood drive, organized by local Boy Scout Brett Bartels, is slated from

1-6 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

The bone marrow test, which is optional, is normally free for minorities

thanks to a federal grant due to the high need for minority donors. But Caucasians

wishing to be placed on the national bone marrow registry usually have to

pay a $75 fee.

Persons interested in being screened for the bone marrow registry should

contact Bartels at 770-631-9794 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Bartels

is also asking those just wishing to donate blood to contact him as well

so he can schedule a donation time to streamline the process, which should

take about an hour.

The Hendrick Marrow Program came through with a significant grant to make

the tests possible, Bartels said.

Donations may be made out to The Hendrick Marrow Program and mailed to Bartels

at 302 Sonnet Ct., Peachtree City. All financial donations are tax-deductible,

Bartels said.

Bartels, a member of Troop 175 at Peachtree City United Methodist Church,

undertook the fund-raising for the bone marrow tests as part of his project

to host the blood drive, which is his main Eagle Scout Leadership Service

project. He has raised $845 with more pledges coming in.