For the last several months, one of the more heart felt off the field stories in MLS has been the fight against leukemia by Andy Williams’ wife Marcia. Real Salt Lake has been involved in a bone marrow testing drive in an effort to find a bone marrow match. Now other clubs have gotten involved, including FC Dallas. This Saturday prior to the USA-Brazil Challenge, starting at 4:30 p.m. CT, FCD will be hoisting a bone marrow testing drive at Pizza Hut Park.
Bobby Rhine has been working to put this effort together, and he wrote a note for FCD supporters.
Dear FC Dallas fans,
On July 3, 2008, Marcia Williams, wife of Real Salt Lake player Andy Williams and mother of two, was diagnosed with acute leukemia. On top of learning this terrible news, the Williams’ learned that Marcia’s only chance of surviving is through a bone marrow transplant, which requires her to find a matching donor. Marcia has been unable to find a match in the national bone marrow banks, and so the fans of Real Salt Lake formed the charity Soccer Unites in order to help save Marcia’s life. “The doctors have told us to look up until the very last day to try to find that match,” said Deb Harper, a director for Soccer Unites. “It’s extremely urgent.”
So far, Soccer Unites have held bone marrow drives in several MLS cities, as well as in Tampa, FL, where many of the teams have been training during the preseason. They have not yet found a match, and so now I am seeking the help of the Dallas soccer community to help save the life of one of our own. As a competitor of Andy’s on the field, and a friend off the field, I have decided to help with the efforts to find a match for Marcia. As a husband and a father, I can think of nothing more important than to save the life of a wife and a mother.
Therefore, please join us at Pizza Hut Park on March 14th for Dallas’ bone marrow drive for Marcia, which will occur during the preseason game versus Atletico Paranaense. The drive will begin at 4:30 pm outside the north gates of Pizza Hut Park, and it will continue through halftime of the game. Please note that the process for determining if you are a potential match is COMPLETELY PAINLESS! All it takes is a cotton swab on the inside of your cheek – that’s it!
In addition to the bone marrow drive, we will be conducting a raffle, with amazing prizes such as a trip to Salt Lake for the FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake game (July 24th) and Kenny Chesney concert tickets (May 2nd at PHP)!
Marcia Williams is the best person to describe just how important this event is. “I know the donor who is a match for me is out there, but if you are not tested, I will never find you,” says Marcia. “My children and my husband need me in their lives, and I need them.”
Please stop by the bone marrow drive on March 14th and help us save Marcia Williams. I look forward to seeing you all there! If you’d like to help but unable to attend, you can visit www.soccerunitesutah.com and make a donation. Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
Bobby Rhine
Leave it to Bobby to step up to the plate and help a person in need. Truly a class act. I went to the Bone Marrow Drive here in SLC and all I had to do was answer a few health questions and they swabbed my cheek with a Q-tip. Process was easy and simple. And if it saves Marcia’s life, that is PRICELESS. Thanks for the support Bobby.
[...] FC Dallas hosted a bone marrow drive a few weeks ago to help try and find a match for Andy Williams’ (of RSL) wife Marcia. The good news is a donor has been found that is enough of a match for Marcia to have the blood transplant. [...]