Rapper Nelly helps spearhead successful Black bone marrow drive to help sister

Jet, July 14, 2003

Making music history is nothing new to rap star Nelly. The St. Louis native, who as a newcomer dropped two multiplatinum-selling albums within a two-year span, has now helped to make history as a humanitarian.

Nelly recently returned to his hometown for a bone marrow donor drive, which made history as the most successful Black bone marrow registry drive, according to the National Bone Marrow Registry. The event produced 1,025 new donors.

More than 1,200 people showed up in St. Louis at America's Center and in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Park Casino. He simultaneously staged the event at both locations.

The rap star first announced the organization of Jes Us 4 Jackie, a nationwide marrow donor awareness and recruitment campaign, a couple of months ago to find a donor for his 29-year-old sister, Jacqueline "Jackie" Donahue (JET, June 2).

Donahue was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in 2001. The cancer was in remission for nearly two years before she suffered a relapse in January. It was then that she learned she would need a bone marrow transplant and a donor match had to be found.

Nelly wasted no time in teaming up with his sister to spearhead the effort.

Donahue was thrilled with the overwhelming support. "It's great. It's wonderful," said the mother of two, who also works as her famous brother's stylist. "I'm speechless. The reality of the numbers of people who came out to show their support is amazing."

She added, "To have other kids and families suffering from life threatening diseases that could be saved by a marrow transplant come up and thank me, was extremely touching and even more inspiring. I have to keep raising awareness and motivate more people to join the registry."

Nelly is hoping for a match, but says that efforts will continue no matter what the outcome.

"If we did [find a match], that would be terrific," said Nelly. "If we didn't, hopefully we may have helped others and we will continue to search to find one for Jackie. This is bigger than just us."

Nelly registered and so did several other relatives. Members of the St. Lunatics were also on hand; they too registered as did players from the St. Louis Cardinals. Singer Johnny Gill and Emmy winner Ja'Net Dubois were among the notables in attendance at the Los Angeles event.

Initially, New York was to be a site the same day for a drive. That location, with Nelly slated to be in attendance, was rescheduled for July 26 at the Armory in Harlem.

Nelly says his efforts will be on going. "It's not just a one-day event and you'll never hear from us again," he said. "It could be a match for somebody else's brother or somebody else's sister."

Additional cities later scheduled for donor drives include New Orleans and Houston on Nov. 8. Atlanta and Memphis are other locations tentatively scheduled.

Jes Us 4 Jackie sponsored the event through his St. Louis-based non-profit organization 4 Sho 4 Kids. Nelly's aunt, Chalena Mack, serves as the executive director of 4 Sho 4 Kids, which assists drug-addicted and Down syndrome children and provides children with literacy programs through its Luxor Learning Inc.

Said Mack, "We want to encourage people to educate their family and friends about the importance of registering to be a donor. We will continue to make history with the help of our communities."