LOS ANGELES—During Sunday worship at St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church in Van Nuys on February 15, prayers were offered for patients of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR). The ceremony was officiated by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese.
In his sermon, Archbishop Derderian had high praise for the humanitarian work of ABMDR. As the Primate prayed for the full and speedy recovery of all ABMDR patients, he strongly encouraged congregants to support the registry’s life-saving mission by joining its ranks as potential bone marrow stem cell donors.
“For the past 15 years, this wonderful organization has never stopped to reach out to Armenian communities across the globe, by raising health awareness, being a source of hope for patients and families, and saving lives through donor matches and the facilitation of bone marrow transplants,” the Archbishop said.
Following the church service, parishioners had the opportunity to learn more about the work of the registry as a team of ABMDR Board members and volunteers answered questions and handed out information.
“Archbishop Derderian continues to be one of ABMDR’s most dedicated advocates and supporters,” said ABMDR President Dr. Frieda Jordan. “It is thanks to his leadership and activism that Armenian congregations across Southern California help advance our mission year after year.”
About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry: Established in 1999, ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians and non-Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date, the registry has recruited over 26,000 donors in 24 countries across four continents, identified 2,482 patients, and facilitated 20 bone marrow transplants.
For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or visit abmdr.am.