"Lion King" Star, 11, Dies from Leukemia, but YOU might save a life. - CBS News (dap @ VirtuoSo)

11 year-old Shannon Tavarez has lost her battle with cancer. 

Quoting from CBS

For bone marrow transplants, minorities and those of mixed ancestry have a more difficult time finding good matches because there aren't as many people from those groups signed up as potential donors. Right now, 83 percent of African-American patients who need marrow transplants don't find matches after six months of searching.

50 cent getting his cheek swab on

Fam, we have lost a beautiful light. Please, please, please take a moment to get on the bone marrow registry. The procedure is painless--a non-invasive cheek swab. You might save a life! For details, see the National Marrow Donor Program official website, click here.   

Here is the CBS story

(CBS/ AP)  Shannon Tavarez, the 11-year-old who starred on Broadway in "The Lion King" and whose battle with leukemia won the hearts of many, including Alicia Keys, Rihanna and 50 Cent, has died.

Tavarez died Monday afternoon at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, on Long Island, said Katharina Harf, co-founder of the bone marrow donor center DKMS.

Adriana Douzos, a spokeswoman for the long-running, Tony winning show, also confirmed the death but declined further comment.  

Tavarez, who played the young lion Nala, had received an umbilical-cord blood transplant in August. The procedure was performed as an alternative to a bone marrow transplant. Her doctor, Dr. Larry Wolfe, said that a perfect bone marrow match for Shannon could not be found.  

Read entire story @ CBS News

tags: cancer, health care, african american 

photo credit: here and here

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     • 50 Cent Urges Fans to Get Swabbed and Save Lives