The Jubilee Project released their latest short film “Fireflies”. The video tackles the topic of autism as a young boy and his new autistic friend discover a shared language of their own. “Fireflies” is a simple reminder that we each have beauty and can connect with others in unique ways. It is the passing glance of a stranger, the earnest offering of a flower, and the knowing smile of a shared secret. Autism is an issue that is often misunderstood and stigmatized. Hopefully, this video can raise awareness for Autism and encourage people to reach out to autistic individuals in their local communities. The short features the song “The Other Side (Fireflies)” by New Heights.
Former American Idol contestant Julianne Manalo released an original single “Invincible”. She was inspired to write this song after a close family member was diagnosed with cancer. This touching song is dedicated to all those who are battling cancer. Her personal experience speaks volume like her vocals.
Janet Liang, a vibrant 25 year old UCLA graduate and a leukemia patient who spent years championing leukemia awareness and Asian American bone marrow registration, passed away last week. In Janet’s memory, this site is partnering with a network of other prominent Asian American sites to host 170 in 7: A Bone Marrow Cyberdrive in Memory of Janet Liang. The 170 in 7 campaign will be running from September 17, 2012 to September 24, 2012. Our goal is to register 170 new potential bone marrow donors in 7 days in memory of Janet Liang.
About the bone marrow cyberdrive:
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer and the most common cancer to affect children and young teens. Treatment to save a leukemia patient’s life often requires a bone marrow transplant from a “perfect match” donor – a donor whose blood matches a recipient’s blood for 10 separate genetic markers. Unfortunately, Asian American and other non-White leukemia patients are much less likely to find a “perfect match” donor than White leukemia patients. This is because Asian Americans and other minorities are significantly underrepresented in Be The Match, the national bone marrow registry used to search for and match potential bone marrow donors with recipients. Janet made it her mission to register Asian American bone marrow donors, and thanks in part to her efforts, at least 18 bone marrow matches were made to recipients nationwide. However, last week, Janet passed away without finding a perfect match for herself. Today, many other Asian American leukemia patients are still waiting to find their perfect match, like 2-year-old Jeremy who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. To celebrate Janet’s life and her legacy, we want to register 170 new potential bone marrow donors in Janet’s name in just 7 days.
Be one of the 170 in 7:
Registration is free for donors, convenient and secure. Here’s how to be one of the 170 in 7:
Click here and fill out the forms to request a free, do-it-yourself cheek swab kit. Tweet about it using #170in7 to be counted! Click the tweet button below to send a Tweet to your followers
If you don’t have a Twitter account, send an email to jenn [at] reappropriate [dot] co to be counted!
And that’s it! Less than ten minutes of your time can help you save a life!
Donor FAQ
In about one month, a cheek swab kit will be sent to you in the mail, along with instructions and a pre-paid return envelope. Follow the instructions to swab your cheeks and return the kit. If you are matched (only 1 in 540 registered donors are ever matched), you will then be contacted and asked if you would like to donate your bone marrow. Registering is not a commitment that you must donate; it is only to help match recipients with potential donors. Most donors are never matched. But if you are matched and if you do choose to donate your bone marrow, that donation is likely to save a young person’s life.
Other Ways to Help Out: Donate to AADP and/or to the Liang family
Donor registration is free for the donor because AADP and other non-profit organizations cover the costs of donor registration through charitable donations. If you are unable to register as a bone marrow donor, please donate to AADP to help fund registration costs for other donors here, or to the Liang family (PayPal account using helpingjanet@gmail.com as the recipient, or checks payable to “Janet Liang” sent to PO box 1526, Pleasanton CA 94566).
Other Ways to Help Out: Spread the Word
If you are already registered, please help spread the word about the 170 in 7 bone marrow cyberdrive through Twitter and Facebook. If you would like to join your site to this partnership or if you would like more information about the 170 in 7 bone marrow cyberdrive, please contact Jenn.
Partnership
170 in 7 is a partnership between the following: channelAPA, 8Asians, AARisings, Angry Asian Man, Asia Pacific Arts, Asian American Donor Program (AADP), Jeff Yang (columnist, Wall Street Journal Online), Reappropriate, Rice Daddies, Schema Magazine, and a special partnership with Team Janet and Jeremy Needs You. If you would like to join the 170 in 7 campaign, we would love to add more partners to this week-long bone marrow donor cyberdrive. To join, please contact Jenn for more information.
Please return to this post for aggregated and updated information on the campaign.
Your act of kindness could help someone like 2 year old Jeremy Kong
channelAPA.com just received the sad news of Janet Liang’s passing. Over the past year, we’ve written about all the support for her as well as bone marrow donation awareness among the Asian American community (Asian Americans Helping Janet Liang and White Frog cast PSA from Janet Liang). We even had a chance to meet her in person at a YTF concert in the San Francisco Bay Area. (At that time, Janet was still high in spirit. She and her friend were definitely hustling to get people to be signed up to the Marrow Donor Registry. You can still help future people in need of bone marrow donation by joining the registry.) But nothing was more emotional than Janet Liang’s personal plea to find the perfect match for a bone marrow donor. The heart-wrenching video went viral helping her and her desire to find a donor. As more people shared the video, it eventually reached Jeremy Lin. During the height of Linsanity, Jeremy Lin even tweeted out this message of support for her on channelAPA.com featuring her personal plea.
In June 2012, she found a match partial bone marrow donor match 9/10. Just last week (September 5), she got her long awaited bone transplant. A week later Janet Liang passed away with her team leaving this message:
To all of Janet’s loving supporters,
It is with a sad and heavy heart that we announce the passing of Janet Liang.
Janet has served as an inspiration to all those who knew her. Her big heart and big smile was something that we all cherished. And although she never fulfilled her dream of being a teacher, she has taught us all one very important lesson: love. Despite battling leukemia for 3 years, she has always found it within her to make her situation more than about herself. Her campaign to raise awareness and advocate for bone marrow donors was for the love of her fellow human. She has certainly taught all of us to love one another, and live each day as if it were our last. After bravely fighting cancer for three years, she has finally found her peace.
We ask that you provide her family with privacy and respect during this difficult time.
Thank you to all of Janet’s supporters. Your outpouring of love and support has always been a constant source of strength for her. Please help to honor her legacy by continuing the fight for leukemia awareness in her memory.
Using her reporting skills, Lisa Ling plays Maria Lowenstein in the comedic short “Touching Ourselves.” She reports on the the movement of people fondling themselves in public. Footage of self examination of lumps in breasts and testicles were caught on tape as people from all walks of life freely check themselves. It’s cancer checking mayhem everywhere along with some hands on learning. Time to F*ck Cancer and detect it early. 90% of cancers are curable if caught in stage one, why the hell aren’t you looking for them?! Just check your privates in private to be sure you’re lump-free.
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation released a thought provoking commercial targeting smokers. Little kids where sent out to ask smokers for a light. Every smoker told kids plenty of reasons not to smoke and refused to give them a light. In the end, the kids gave the smokers a piece of paper stating “You worry about me, but why not about yourself? Reminding yourself is the most effective warning to help you quit.”
