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The Summertime Swab Challenge
Throughout the month of July, the Icla da Silva Foundation is running the Summertime Swab Challenge. Enter a guess – how many swabs did we fit in the jar? The person with the closest guess to the actual number of swabs will get to choose one of two fantastic prizes, valued at over $500. While you enjoy the warmer days and bigger smiles associated with summer, we hope you will take a chance and enter a guess to help a patient in need.
The Swabs
Swabs are a big part of what we do. When you join the Be The Match bone marrow registry, you receive a swab kit in the mail. After you have swabbed the inside of your cheek, you send it back to Be The Match so that your HLA type can be tested, registered, and included in patient searches. Hopefully you will be matched to one of the 14,000 patients who need a transplant to survive. Swabs are about registering yourself to become a life saver.
During the month of July, we are using swabs to increase awareness and raise funds so that we can continue to save more lives.
The Swab Jar
Summertime Swab Challenge
We have filled a 2.5 gallon glass jar with q-tip sized swabs and closed the lid. Underneath the jar is an envelope that details the # of swabs included in the jar. On August 1, 2018, we will open the envelope on social media and reveal the # of swabs. Will you be a winner?
A Small Donation
From July 1st through July 31st, you will have the chance to make a small donation* and enter your guess as to how many swabs we have fit into the jar. All donations will go towards our Patient Support Services program. Based on need, we try to assist patient families with expenses associated with bone marrow testing and treatments. Items like HLA typing, medical co-pays, transportation, and housing can become overbearing when a patent, or their family, don’t have the savings available to manage all of the costs associated with an extensive treatment plan.
Donate and guess as often as you like. Share your guess with your social network. Every donation will help a patient in need, sharing on facebook will help increase awareness about how easy it is to become a life saver, and entering will earn you a chance to win a fantastic prize.
Please enter here: Summertime swab challenge
* no donation necessary, see official rules for alternative entry.
Prize Options
The person who provides the most accurate guess as to the actual # of swabs in the jar will will have their choice between one of two fantastic prize options, A or B:
Option A: If your guess is the closest, you could choose (2) tickets to the 2018 Annual Hope Gala event in New York City. The Gala is our black tie (optional) dinner and dance where we celebrate our recent achievements and showcase a first time meeting between a transplant patient and their bone marrow donor.
You will enjoy great company, good food and dance the night away. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will help us celebrate the patients who we support and the lives that we save.
The Hope Gala event takes place on October 17, 2018 at Gustavino’s, 409 East 59th Street, New York, NY from 6:30PM until 9:30PM. Transportation, accommodations and other costs associated with attending this event are not included with this prize award. Total retail value is $900.
-Or-
Option B: As an alternative, you may choose a $500 gift certificate to the Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chao. The restaurant is inspired by the grand kitchen tables on the farms in Southern Brazil, where family and friends gather to share the finest and the freshest from their harvest.
Fogo de Chao has 39 locations throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico and the gift certificate is available to use at a location of your choice until August 1, 2020.
Enter Here:
The Reveal
On August 1, 2018, on social media, we will open the envelope that reveals the # of swabs in the jar. Will you be the winner? Enter a guess and you may have your choice between one of 2 great prizes. Please share our sweepstakes promotion on facebook and ask your friends to enter their guess.
Enjoy the summer!