Festive community event will celebrate health and fitness, support the ABMDR’s life-saving work Los Angeles – The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) announced that its fifth annual walkathon, Walk of Life 2010, will take place on Saturday, November 13 in Glendale, California. A 3K/6K walk event, the walkathon will begin in front of Glendale Memorial Hospital and conclude at Verdugo Park, where subsequently a community festival will be held, featuring food and live entertainment, with performances by a number of popular singers and bands. The annual walkathon continues to garner broad community and mainstream support, including sponsorships by corporations, healthcare establishments, local government, elected officials, and artists who donate their talent. Walk of Life 2010 is co-sponsored by Glendale Memorial Hospital and the City of Glendale. The event is chaired by Arpi Kestenian of Glendale Memorial Hospital and has five honorary co-chairs: Laura Friedman, a member of the Glendale City Council and a cancer survivor; Congressman Adam Schiff, a longtime ABMDR supporter; Senator Carol Liu, a strong advocate of breast cancer awareness; Greg Krikorian, president of the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education; and Grigor Hovhannisyan, consul general of Armenia in Los Angeles. Participants can register for the upcoming walkathon through the ABMDR website (abmdr.am) or in person on the day of the event. They have the option of registering as individuals or teams, and can take part in the walkathon in honor or memory of a loved one. As with previous walkathons, many teams representing Armenian and public schools as well as student associations from community colleges and universities have signed up for Walk of Life 2010. “This is a wonderful occasion that will bring together participants from throughout our community for a great cause,” said Dr. Frieda Jordan, president of the ABMDR Board of Directors. “So far the response we’ve received has been nothing short of heartwarming, with hundreds of people signing up.” On the day of the walkathon, in-person registration will run from 7:30 to 8:30 AM in front of Glendale Memorial Hospital. Afterwards, during a brief opening ceremony, the event will be blessed by religious representatives from the Armenian Prelacy, the Armenian Diocese, and other churches. The close to four-mile walkathon will begin at 9 AM. Participants will also have a chance to register at 9:30 AM, in front of Glendale City Hall. Those who wish to attend the festival at Verdugo Park without taking part in the walkathon can register at the park beginning at 10:30 AM. By the conclusion of the event at 2:30 in the afternoon, buses will be available to take walkathon participants back to Glendale City Hall and Glendale Memorial Hospital. Participants of Walk of Life 2010 will be supporting the life-saving activities of the ABMDR, Dr. Jordan said. A nonprofit pan-Armenian organization, the ABMDR helps Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. Dr. Jordan added that the ABMDR is encouraging supporters throughout the world to bring their virtual participation to the upcoming walkathon, by creating teams and raising funds through the registry’s website. During Walk for Life 2010, participants will also have the opportunity to sign up as potential bone marrow stem cell donors, helping expand the worldwide ranks of the ABMDR. “Becoming a potential stem cell donor is an extremely simple and quick process,” stated Fimi Mekhitarian, a longtime volunteer who will help run one of several recruitment booths at Verdugo Park on November 13. Mekhitarian also said that those who would like to sign up as volunteer recruiters can do so through the ABMDR site. Commenting on the ABMDR’s appeal among communities in Los Angeles and beyond, Dr. Evelyn Baghdassarian of the registry spoke about increasing grass-roots awareness of the organization’s mission, particularly among the youth. “Our annual walkathons have created tremendous enthusiasm, especially among young people,” she said. “That’s why we see so many student teams participating in the event. They come together in a spirit of selfless dedication, making our work all the more worthwhile.” Dr. Baghdassarian added that students participating in Walk of Life 2010 will receive the ABMDR’s Community Work Award.

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