FDNY, New York Blood Center, and Be The Match Honor FDNY Bone Marrow Donors

October 17, 2023

FDNY Officials, New York Blood Center Senior Vice President Andrea H. Cefarelli, and Be The Match Senior Vice President Erica Jensen will add the names of FDNY bone marrow donors to the “Honor Roll of Life” at a ceremony on Wednesday, October 18 at 11:30 a.m. at FDNY Headquarters – 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn. Several of the members have donated more than once. The ceremony can be viewed live on the Department’s website at www.nyc.gov/FDNY or HERE.

During the ceremony, Firefighter Ryan McLean, 30, of Engine 255, will meet the recipient of his life-saving bone marrow, Cristiano Frigoli, a five-year-old from Cedar Hill, Texas. Cristiano was diagnosed with a rare immunodeficiency disease that could only be cured by a bone marrow transplant.

Nearly 12,000 FDNY members have joined the Be The Match Registry, the national registry of volunteer blood stem cell and bone marrow donors, with many being recruited in partnership with New York Blood Center. More than 220 FDNY members have donated these gifts to patients since 1991– in some cases more than once.

WHO: FDNY Officials; New York Blood Center Senior Vice President Andrea Cerfarelli; Be The Match Senior Vice President Erica Jensen; Director of FDNY Bureau of Health Services, Douglas Wilson; FDNY donors and officials.

WHERE: FDNY Headquarters - 9 Metrotech Ctr, Brooklyn, NY 11201

WHEN: Wednesday, October 18 – 11:30 a.m.

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