Veterans Memorial Hospital to offer “Be the Match” stem cell sampling at Music in the Park in Lansing this Thursday

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will be visiting Lansing’s Music in the Park Thursday evening, August 24, beginning at 5 p.m. and offering free blood sugar testing and blood pressure checks with immediate results by Angie Mettille, Diabetes Educator.  The hospital typically offers these two tests at many area events and often times catches individuals who unknowingly have high results. Both of these checks take just a few seconds to perform and are free of charge.

This summer, Veterans Memorial Hospital has been offering “Be the Match” stem cell sampling for everyone ages 18-40 at all events they are attending.  “Be the Match” sampling is quick, easy, painless and can truly save a life. This is the same program that Robin Roberts from Good Morning America endorses following her own successful bone marrow transplant match 10 years ago.  A blood stem cell donation can be a cure for blood cancer, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases. Many patients and their families are counting on drives like this to find their match. Once a match is found, 90% of the time just a blood donation is needed by the matched donor to save them from their deadly disease. “Be the Match” sampling will also be performed by hospital staff at Music in the Park August 24, and just takes a few minutes to complete.

Thousands of people in the United States walk around with diabetes unaware they have high blood sugar. Many also have high blood pressure in need of medical attention. Random testing such as this opportunity at Music in the Park helps to find these individuals and direct them to the professionals who can help them successfully manage their health.

As always, VMH will have a medical kit available for any first aid emergencies at the event.