K 617: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 28, 2025, as Blood Cancer Day in the State of New York

 Assembly Resolution No. 617 BY: M. of A. Cunningham MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 28, 2025, as Blood Cancer Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize official days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim Wednesday, May 28, 2025, as Blood Cancer Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of World Blood Cancer Day; and WHEREAS, Every three to four minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with a blood cancer; and WHEREAS, Every year, 18,000 patients are diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancers or disorders for which a blood stem cell transplant from a related or unrelated volunteer donor may be their best or only hope of a cure; and WHEREAS, A bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant can cure or treat more than 75 blood cancers and diseases, including leukemia and lymphoma; and WHEREAS, For nearly 40 years, NMDP (National Marrow Donor Program) has been providing hope and healing to patients by managing the national registry of volunteer blood cell donors; and WHEREAS, Seventy-five percent of patients do not have a fully matched donor in their family and must rely on NMDP to help find an unrelated donor or cord blood unit; and WHEREAS, Matching volunteer donors to patients is more complex than simple blood donation and requires matching on a genetic level, based on blood protein types; and WHEREAS, The national registry, operated by NMDP, provides access to more than 42 million lifesaving donors worldwide; and WHEREAS, Adding your name to the registry of potential donors requires only a few minutes of time and a simple cheek swab; and WHEREAS, 406,000 residents of New York have already joined the national registry and over 700 residents answered the call and said yes to donating during the last five years; and WHEREAS, Over 7,000 New Yorkers have received a potentially life-saving transplant through the NMDP Registry since its inception; and WHEREAS, NMDP will raise awareness at the New York State Capitol by providing educational information and offering registration opportunities on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 8:00am to 1:00pm at the New York Legislative Office Building; and WHEREAS, Observing World Blood Cancer Day on May 28, 2025, provides a special opportunity to recognize the patients facing blood cancers and the selfless volunteer donors who joined the NMDP Registry to help save lives; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 28, 2025, as Blood Cancer Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.