Little Rock, Arkansas – A Little Rock church opened its doors Saturday morning not just for worship, but for a powerful act of support and compassion. Saint Mark Baptist Church organized a stem cell donor drive in honor of one of their own—Roxanne Humphrey—who is currently fighting a rare and life-threatening illness called Myelodysplastic Syndrome.
The event brought together members of the congregation and the wider community in an effort to find a potential life-saving match for Humphrey and others facing similar diagnoses. Volunteers, health workers, and families filled the church, united by a shared mission: to offer hope through donor registration.
Humphrey’s battle has become a rallying point for Saint Mark. The church made it clear this wasn’t just about helping one person. It was also a call to action—a push to raise awareness about the critical shortage of registered stem cell donors, especially among diverse populations.
“Many people don’t realize how simple it is to become a donor,” said one church member at the event. “A cheek swab is all it takes to possibly save someone’s life.”
The donor drive was held in partnership with DKMS, an international nonprofit dedicated to fighting blood cancer and blood disorders. Through outreach efforts like these, DKMS works to expand the global registry of potential stem cell donors. For those interested in joining the registry, information is available at DKMS.org.
Events like the one at Saint Mark show the power of community in the face of serious health battles. What began as a gesture of love for a friend quickly became something bigger—an effort that could give hope to countless others awaiting a match.
Saint Mark’s initiative is a reminder that change often begins at the local level. One donor, one church, one woman’s story—that’s all it takes to turn a morning in Little Rock into a moment that matters.
