Ali’s Run 2015

In Memory of Ali Kaplan

11th Annual 5K Run/Walkfor the24th Annual William & Mary Alan Bukzin MemorialBone Marrow Drive

About Ali’s Run

When: Saturday, April 11, 2015                                         Race Start: 10 A.M.

Registration and Parking: William & Mary School of Law, 613 South Henry Street, Williamsburg, VA

 

Start and Finish: Bicentennial Park, Newport Ave. @ South Henry St.

 

Entry Fee: $15 early registration or $20 day of race

 

Early Registration: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; April 6-10 in the law school lobby; or at https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Williamsburg/AlisRun2015 or

 

T-shirt Pick Up: Race Day, April 11, from 8 to 9:15 a.m. @ the Law School Entrance

 

Post-Race Activities: Refreshments, performance awards, and prizes!

About the Alan Bukzin Memorial Bone Marrow Drive

Each year in the United States 30,000 people are diagnosed with potentially fatal blood diseases such as leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and aplastic anemia, for which a bone marrow transplant may be the only cure. Less than 25% of patients will find a donor within their immediate family, and the remainder rely on unrelated donors, recruited through drives such as this one, and on transplants facilitated by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP).

 

In 1991, Professor Dale Hoak united the William & Mary community to find a matching marrow donor for Professor James Whittenburg. Jay Bukzin, class of 1994, continued these efforts, hoping to find a match for his brother, Alan, who suffered from leukemia. Jay’s tremendous endeavor provided the impetus for what has become an annual campus philanthropic event that unites the entire community. Alan eventually found a match and underwent a successful marrow transplant at age 15. After enjoying several healthy years, Alan passed away in the summer of 1996. Today, the drive is named in Alan's honor.

In 1996, the American Red Cross presented the College of William & Mary with the prestigious Zumwalt Community Award for its tremendous efforts in finding donors. Today, the College of William and Mary has the largest on-campus bone marrow drive in the nation. The NMDP maintains a national Be A Match Registry of potential donors that provides hope for thousands of patients locally, nationally, and internationally. There are currently over 4 million donors listed on the registry; thousands of those donors have been registered at William and Mary drives. While the Registry continues to grow each year, it can never be large enough to ensure a match for every patient. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 60 can become donor, and therefore almost every segment of the community is a lifesaving resource waiting to be tapped. Each unregistered individual represents a potential opportunity lost. Your participation in this run gives you an opportunity to help save lives.

 

About Ali Kaplan

 

Alison Kaplan passed away in 1999, at age 12, from aplastic anemia, a very rare bone marrow disease. Ali was a straight "A" student, played soccer and basketball, and was active in school chorus and Dance Williamsburg. In recognition of Ali's selflessness, compassion, and courage, both James Blair Middle School and the Junior Women's Club of Williamsburg established annual student awards in her memory.