Be The Match, New York joins the fight against blood cancer in 5K.

New Yorkers united on Roosevelt Island, Saturday September 30th, 2017 to help save the lives of people suffering from blood cancers such as Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma, and Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). 70% of the patients who need a bone marrow transplant do not have a matching donor in their family. Be the Match is a non-profit organization who delivers cures by matching potential donors with patients.

Approximately every three minutes one person in the United States is diagnosed with blood cancer. There were over 120 volunteers and 200 runners who came out to support the patients and their families. Adam Marr, a patient with blood cancer, received his transplant February 23rd, 2016, and was excited about the event.

"It was up and down whether I had to have the bone marrow transplant but then they found a mutation which at that point I had to have it. Once I found out I had a strong match, twelve out of twelve, I was really happy about that," Marr said.

Anyone can become a bone marrow donor. You can help fight cancer by using a cotton swab on the inside of your cheek. You have a chance to be selected as a donor match for a cancer patient in need.

Be The Match can be found in five other cities that include, Charlotte, Chicago, Long Beach, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia. Over $84,000 has been raised in New York City alone.

"It's a great feeling and we're all fortunate. I know it sounds cliche, but we have Be The Match to thank for it because they do such a great job finding donors," Marr said.