WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-WBTV supporting "Be the Match Marrowthon"

WBTV supporting "Be the Match Marrowthon"

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - You may remember Katlin Watts.  Katlin is a vivacious, beautiful 13-year-old Indian Trail girl who met President Obama recently as Levine Children's Hospital's Children's Miracle Network "Champion Child."  She lit up the set with her smile as she joined us live in our 5:30 newscast in April.

Katlin needs our help.  Blood transfusions for her sickle cell anemia are no longer stopping her pain episodes.  Her pain is so severe, she has been unable to attend school much of the end of this year.  Katlin needs a bone marrow transplant to stop the pain and save her life.  Katlin's family has yet to find a perfect match and time is running out.

WBTV wants to spread the word about a nation-wide campaign called the "Be the Match" Marrowthon.

You can still sign up.  We're having a Marrowthon event for employees here in the building at WBTV TODAY.  There are other events this week - June 18 at CMC Northlake, and June 20 at the Oakhurst Pavillion in Cornelius.  Click here for myths and facts about bone marrow donation.

Getting tissue-typed doesn't hurt.  All they need from you is a registration form and a painless swab from the inside of your cheek that you actually do yourself.  To find out more about what to expect, click here.

You can find out more about major events happening near you by clicking here.

Katlin needs a genetic match to save her life.  Minorities are underrepresented because of a lack of awareness and misperceptions about bone marrow donation.  African American patients have the lowest likelihood of finding a matched marrow donor.  Please, spread the word at your workplace, your church, your gym, wherever you can, and watch WBTV in the coming days to find out how easy it is to get involved, be the match, and save a life.