Joe Chernoff is looking to the Vancouver Russian community for someone who could save his life.
Chernoff was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia a year and a half ago. His disease went into remission in February of last year, but Joe relapsed this month.
A wide search of the bone marrow registry has not revealed a suitable match.
Due to his Russian heritage, his best chance of finding a donor would come from the Russian community.
The 56-year-old lumber salesman lives in New Westminster with his wife, Cathie, and their three teenaged children.
Cathie has been helping in her husband’s survival by circulating mass emails asking people to consider registering as a donor through the Canadian Blood Services One Match network.
While they haven’t had any luck so far, Cathie said the message is getting publicity.
“It started with an email to friends and family and snowballed from there, demonstrating both the power of the Internet and the genuine compassion of the community,” she said.
