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Young WonderCNN Hero Pat PedrajaTwelve-year-old Patrick Pedraja today is in remission and feeling good. Who knows what this exceptional kid will do now... Last year while being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Pat used his head, literally, to add donors of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry. Initially, Pat used eBay to sell advertising space on his head — then bald from chemotherapy — to raise money to support the mission of the National Marrow Donor Program. He raised $5,100. The idea to create awareness about the need for diverse donors came to Pat after watching a TV news program that highlighted the critical shortage of potential donors in black, Latino and other diverse communities. Part Cuban, Pat wanted to make a difference by helping to diversify and expand the NMDP Registry. Launching a national donor driveInspired by this initial success, Pat launched a 31-city national donor drive — One Child’s Dream. Driving for Donors. During the spring and summer of 2007, Pat and his family traveled across the country in a “Donormobile” (a donated RV) creating awareness and hosting donor recruitment drives in major U.S. cities. He recruited more than 5,000 potential donors to the NMDP Registry.Throughout his journey, Pat gained attention for his efforts — he appeared in newspapers around the country, met Adam Sandler at a movie premiere, scored tickets to an NBA playoff game and appeared on the Today Show. Pat's awareness campaign received widespread media coverage, including CNN; more than 45 million people in the United States heard his call. In recognition of his efforts, CNN named Pat as one of its "Young Wonders" in its CNN Heroes initiative. In the running with five other young people doing amazing things, Pat received the most votes in this category. Pat is now a finalist with winners from 5 other CNN Heroes categories.
Watch CNN Heroes All Stars Tribute Dec. 6, 2007 at 9 p.m. Eastern time. Support the needHonor this amazing young wonder and his efforts to support the mission of the National Marrow Donor Program.
Learn more about Pat Pedraja at www.drivingfordonors.com. And if you have your own creative idea, contact the National Marrow Donor Program to see how we can help you put it into action — call 1 (800) MARROW-2 (1-800-627-7692). Media Contact:
Kristen Spargo (612) 817-6442
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