Original published date: 9/10/2019

When a spike in blood pressure sent him to the emergency room, Bob never expected a diagnosis of leukemia. After all, he had been feeling just fine. And yet suddenly he found himself struck by blood cancer—acute lymphoblastic leukemia, to be exact—and needing chemotherapy to fight the disease. He also needed a blood stem cell transplant for his best chance at surviving long term and preventing relapse.

In 2009 Bob received a life-saving blood stem cell transplant, thanks to a selfless donor from the NMDP Registry^SM. Cancer may have tried to slow him down (he was barely able to walk at one point), but Bob never gave up. In fact, he picked up speed—and a bike.

Bob began cycling during his healing and recovery. In 2011, he turned his passion for cycling into a powerful fundraising opportunity.

He started Team Lifeblood through Fundraise for NMDP to raise money to add more donors to the registry to ultimately save more lives.

In 2021 he partnered with NMDP to lead the inaugural NMDP Cycle—a series of bike rides to raise hope and money for patients on their transplant journey, raise critical funds and build public awareness. For three more years Bob continued his commitment to NMDP Cycle, serving as team captain for numerous routes in California, Florida, the Midwest—and more.

Bob has certainly earned time to rest—but the transplant recipient and retiree likes to stay busy supporting NMDP in other ways, too. For years Bob has devoted his time to being one of our volunteer NMDP couriers transporting donors’ blood stem cells to the patients who need them. He’s also an NMDP advocacy volunteer, talking to lawmakers and the public, as well as advocating to protect federal funding and introduce health policies that remove barriers to transplant and donation.

“We are so grateful for Bob’s vision and his invitation to others to offer hope to patients in need … He is an inspiration and his efforts have benefited so many other patients and their families,” said Joy King, Chief Advancement Officer of NMDP.

See all the ways you join Bob and other supporters to move our mission forward.

“I started biking when I first began my healing journey post-transplant, and quickly realized I could use my passion to help others,” Bob said. “There are too many patients who do not have access to this life-saving treatment—and with more funding we can remove barriers and help save more lives.”

When he started Team Lifeblood in 2011 to raise money for NMDP, he was joined by two-time marrow transplant recipient Annie, who also had leukemia, and Bob H., whose sister, Linda, was receiving treatment for leukemia.

The trio would stop at transplant centers to inspire hospital staff and patients undergoing transplants, so they could see that surviving and thriving was possible. They also did dozens of news interviews along the journey to spread awareness and the need to grow and diversify the registry so every patient can find a match.

"I am alive today because a blood stem cell transplant from a willing donor who cured my leukemia,” said Bob. “We want to raise money for [NMDP] to add more donors to the registry. There’s still a lot of people from underrepresented groups that are unable to find a match when they need a transplant.”

Through Bob’s passion and dedication, NMDP Cycle was created in 2022 and ran for several years. The series of charity bike events raised an incredible $445,135, thanks to our sponsors and the fundraising efforts of our cyclists—many of whom biked their routes under Bob’s leadership as team captain.

Bob alone has raised more than $187,000 and cycled over 40,000 miles (more than the circumference of the earth!)—on behalf of NMDP’s life-saving mission. His passionate support for NMDP inspires many people, especially considering the journey he endured through cancer, chemotherapy, transplant and recovery.

When Bob isn’t biking, he’s supporting the mission in other ways as a courier and a legislative advocate. As a courier, Bob safely transports donated blood stem cells to the patients who need them—wherever they may be. (Fact: Half of all NMDP-facilitated transplants involve an international donor or patient.)

“It is always a very special day when as a volunteer courier when you are entrusted to transport blood stem cells from wherever the donor cells were collected to a hospital where the blood cancer patient is awaiting their life-saving infusion,” said Bob. “I consider it an honor to be a volunteer courier.”

Bob is also a passionate legislative advocate for patients, donors and NMDP. He regularly educates the public on the need to contact their representatives to support policies to expand access and improve outcomes of cell therapy.

He even talks to lawmakers himself sometimes. In 2022 he spoke with Sen. Michael Bennett (Colorado) alongside other NMDP advocates to tell him about the Life Saving Leave Act. If passed, it would allow a donor to take up to 40 hours of nonconsecutive, unpaid leave in order to donate blood stem cells—without risk of losing their job. This job protection would remove one of donors’ biggest barriers to donating, allowing more to say “yes” when called upon as a match for a patient.

Named after brothers Jay and Leigh Livermore, who were dedicated NMDP advocates, the Livermore Spirit Award recognizes individuals who’ve demonstrated an outstanding commitment to NMDP’s life-saving mission. And there’s no one more deserving of an award than Bob—who received the Livermore Spirit Award in 2021.

We are incredibly grateful for Bob’s support throughout the years. He continues to help NMDP push the boundaries of what’s possible for patients and realize our vision: a world where every patient can receive their life-saving cell therapy.

You can play a powerful role in our mission, too. Whether you want to volunteer, host a registry drive or run alongside Team NMDP at a marathon, you can do a lot of good in the lives of patients we help.