Huntington Local

Members of a Brooklyn firehouse are running a blood drive and bone marrow testing at the Greenlawn Volunteer Fire Department in two weeks for a colleague who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.

The FDNY firefighter is Kevin Lennon, who lives in Greenlawn.

In October, Lennon and other members of Brooklyn’s Ladder Company 175/Engine Company 332 responded to a serious car accident at the corner of Pennsylvania and Pitkin Avenues the East New York section of Brooklyn,. He and another New York City firefighter were exposed to the blood of one of the victims, and so had to be tested for possible blood-borne diseases. Lennon’s test showed he had leukemia.

To help create a support network for Lennon and his family, the firefighters decided to ask the community to give blood and register as bone marrow donors so others with this disease can be helped.

Working with the Long Island Blood Center, members of Lennon’s firehouse have scheduled the blood drive and bone marrow testing for April 12 at the Greenlawn Volunteer Fire Department at 23 Boulevard Avenue in Greenlawn from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In a statement issued by he firefighters’ union, delegate Dean Psathas said, “The members of our company decided that we must be there for Kevin as he battles this disease, but equally there are thousands of other leukemia sufferers who can benefit from greater awareness of just how simple it is to be a bone marrow registrant and to give.”

“While none of the blood raised from this drive will be for transfusions for Kevin, our true goal is to raise awareness for the disease and its cure, as well as registering more bone marrow donors.”