PLANO, TX--(Marketwired - Jun 6, 2013) - On May 22nd, Wellness International Network held a bone marrow drive in hopes to save a life. On behalf of Aidan Peterson (6 yrs) and thousands of others suffering from blood cancer over one hundred heroes showed up to save the day. However, these heroes were not decked in capes or donning masks, they simply showed up to become registered bone marrow donors and help raise money for this family. With a big screen playing Aidan's famous YouTube video of him rocking out to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing," and a fun photo booth ready to turn the "ordinarily" dressed hero into Clark Kent, the day carried an electrifying mood as people filed into Wellness International Network. Delete Blood Cancer representatives stood by to officiate and answer questions from attendees.
The need and urgency for bone marrow donors fell close to home as those attending received the chance to interact with Aidan's mother, Candace Lawson Gaudet. From the moment she stepped in the door the strength this woman encompassed was apparent. Many of the attendees emotionally bonded with her as most have children of their own. One donor commented, "I know how blessed I am with having healthy children and can understand this mother's desire to find a match for her son. It warms my heart seeing humanity at its best, giving back to a total stranger." Another donor commented on how easy it was to register as a donor and vowed to get others to do the same. The drive produced 40 potential donors who'll be notified if they're a match for anyone in need. Not including the drive hosted by Wellness International Network, there have been 26 other bone marrow drives held in Aidan's honor which have produced a match for Aidan, as well as five matches for others in similar situations.
Other superheroes for the event were those who generously donated products and services for a raffle to raise money for Aidan and his family. The businesses who donated goods for the raffle included Marshmallow Shooters, Pei Wei Asian Diner, BMW, Action Sports Value, Halcyon Days Salons and Spas, Fairy Godmother Bridal, Socially Write, Drybar, Ella Bleu, Marriott at Shops of Legacy, Christine Atkins Photography, and Johnny Rodriguez the Salon. Costume World provided costumes for volunteers and the photo booth, as well as Frisco Party Station who donated balloons. Wellness International Network's bone marrow awareness efforts stretch beyond the drive as the company joined the Cars and Coffee event with BMW on June 1st and raised $1900 for the family, and Independent Distributors of Wellness International Network will also be hosting a ladies' luncheon on June 28th benefiting Aidan's family in their fight against blood cancer. For more information or to participate, please call 972-312-1100.
One of the most amazing aspects of hosting the bone marrow drive is the way it impacted the surrounding community. Those who involved themselves left with a bigger perspective and understanding. While so many are worried about clothes, cars and money, there are people fighting for their lives every single day -- people confined within hospital walls, depending on those outside to help them in any way possible. Yes, witnessing a little boy smile and dance to his favorite songs despite his circumstances makes one realize what truly matters in life. With the efforts of others, the tight gap between life and death widens, giving people another chance to live, a chance to tell their story and continue to pay it forward in the future. When you truly think about it, there isn't much of a difference between the person living with the illness and the person who isn't. It could've easily been any one on the receiving end in need of a helping hand. In this world, you don't need a large "S" on your shirt to be a hero. Aidan's mom put it beautifully as she posted on their Facebook page, "All of you who have organized events, took kits and swabbed people who couldn't make it to an event, who have ordered extra kits for your friends -- you not only inspire me, you give us that extra lift when we're sitting at the hospital wishing there was more we could DO. You're doing it for us. Thank you all for your generous spirits."
Ralph Oats, founder of Wellness International Network would also like to thank everyone who registered as donors and/or contributed to the cause in any way possible, you may not have been wearing capes, but as far as superheroes go, you truly swooped in and saved the day. Let the fight against blood cancer continue until victory prevails!
About Wellness International Network, Ltd. (WIN)
Founded in 1992 by Ralph Oats and his wife, Cathy, WIN operates in many countries throughout North America, Europe, Africa and Australia. A leader in transformational health and nutritional products, Wellness International Network, Ltd. is headquartered in Plano, Texas, with affiliates located in Hoofddorp, Holland; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Sydney, Australia. Management Team 500 Magazine has selected Wellness International Network as a Top 500 company for four years. WIN's Winrgy®, Sure2Endure™ and WINOmeg3complex™ hold respected certification from the NSF Certified for Sport® program as products considered safe for those needing to comply with anti-doping regulations. WIN Worldwide BV also participates in the Netherlands Security System Nutritional Supplements Top Elite Sports [NZVT] program with a number of our products white listed as safe for top athletes. For more information visit: www.nsfsport.com or www.necedo.nl/nzvt. WIN's products are listed in the Z-Index, a database of products associated with the public pharmacy, used by doctors, pharmacists, businesses and government. Learn more about why "It Pays to Live Well" at winltd.com.
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