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Broadway Stars Unite for Life-Saving Bone Marrow Drive
29 Jan
Summary
- Broadway community hosted an event for bone marrow donation matches.
- Shannon Tavarez, a young Lion King cast member, lost her life to leukemia.
- African Americans have a low registration rate for bone marrow donation.
The tight-knit Broadway community demonstrated its solidarity at the Museum of Broadway this past Wednesday, hosting an event named "Casting the Role of a Lifeline." This initiative focused on finding crucial bone marrow matches for individuals battling blood cancers.
The cause holds deep personal significance for the cast of "The Lion King," who lost one of their own, Shannon Tavarez, to Acute Myeloid Leukemia 15 years ago. Tavarez, who dreamed of performing from a young age, landed the role of young Nala at just 10 years old. Her mother, Odiney Brown, shared the heartbreaking reality of the low bone marrow donor registration rates among African Americans, which was only about 6%, significantly reducing Tavarez's chances of finding a match.
Despite the Broadway community's widespread support, Tavarez succumbed to leukemia in 2010 at the age of 11. Her memory, however, continues to inspire ongoing efforts. L. Steven Taylor, who portrays Mufasa in "The Lion King," noted Tavarez's vibrant spirit and how she embodied the show's themes. He is involved in drives like the one held on Wednesday, inspired by Shannon S.H.A.R.E., an organization founded by her family to encourage more people to join the bone marrow registry.
