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Patrick Pedraja: Star of This Year's Take Action Tour
Patrick Pedraja knows how to turn something not-so-good into something amazing. When he was just 10 years old, he was diagnosed with Leukemia. And during his battle, he decided to start a charity called Driving for Donors, helping to find bone marrow donors for patients in need.
Today, this 14-year-old’s charity is partnering up with this year’s Take Action Tour, a successful concert featuring bands, like We The Kings, Mayday Parade and A Rocket to the Moon, traveling across the U.S. ’til March.
Ten percent of ticket sales for the show will go to Driving for Donors and concert-goers will be able to register on the National Marrow Registry at every location. Inspired by his story, we got this teen on the phone to share more about his charity and how girls like you can help…
Today, this 14-year-old’s charity is partnering up with this year’s Take Action Tour, a successful concert featuring bands, like We The Kings, Mayday Parade and A Rocket to the Moon, traveling across the U.S. ’til March.
Ten percent of ticket sales for the show will go to Driving for Donors and concert-goers will be able to register on the National Marrow Registry at every location. Inspired by his story, we got this teen on the phone to share more about his charity and how girls like you can help…
GL: Tell us a little bit about how this charity came about.
Patrick: Well, I had Leukemia and I was lying in a hospital bed and saw a story on TV about a girl who had just died. I told my mom that I wanted to help people who needed bone marrow. At first, she didn’t really take me seriously [until] I said, “I really want to help people nationally.” So me, my mom and dad drove around the country for three months and signed people up as bone marrow donors.
We’ve read about something called the “Donor Mobile.” What’s that?
It was a blue RV we drove around [in] and took cheek swabs from people [as] they signed up on a registry for bone marrow donors. People read the DNA from inside your mouth. It’s kind of like a six-digit bar code and they use it to match you up with someone who needs bone marrow.
Is there anything that gave you strength and helped you stay positive while you were sick?
Definitely my family. And also sports. I really like sports.
If you could say anything to kids right now who might be dealing with a serious illness, what would it be?
Just staying positive and keeping a good attitude helps. It’s a battle in your mind, but being positive is good.
Do you have any advice for other kids who want to help people, but don’t know where to begin?
Find something you’re really passionate about, whether it’s recycling or helping the homeless or bone marrow donation. As long as you really care about it and are passionate, then it’s easy to get involved and stay with it. It’s important to feel strongly about what you’re doing.
What would you say to those who might not know much about bone marrow donation?
My goal has been to raise awareness about bone marrow donation. It’s so important to me to educate people about donating and how to do it. It’s easy: All you have to do is swab the inside of your cheek with a Q-tip and sign up on the list. If you match up with someone who needs bone marrow, then you’ll be contacted. You could save someone’s life!
For more info on Patrick and Driving for Donors, CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE to see where the Take Action Tour is heading towards next.
Which is your fave charitable organization? Would you consider being a bone marrow donor? Blog about it, babes.
By: Megan Parker
Patrick: Well, I had Leukemia and I was lying in a hospital bed and saw a story on TV about a girl who had just died. I told my mom that I wanted to help people who needed bone marrow. At first, she didn’t really take me seriously [until] I said, “I really want to help people nationally.” So me, my mom and dad drove around the country for three months and signed people up as bone marrow donors.
We’ve read about something called the “Donor Mobile.” What’s that?
It was a blue RV we drove around [in] and took cheek swabs from people [as] they signed up on a registry for bone marrow donors. People read the DNA from inside your mouth. It’s kind of like a six-digit bar code and they use it to match you up with someone who needs bone marrow.
Is there anything that gave you strength and helped you stay positive while you were sick?
Definitely my family. And also sports. I really like sports.
If you could say anything to kids right now who might be dealing with a serious illness, what would it be?
Just staying positive and keeping a good attitude helps. It’s a battle in your mind, but being positive is good.
Do you have any advice for other kids who want to help people, but don’t know where to begin?
Find something you’re really passionate about, whether it’s recycling or helping the homeless or bone marrow donation. As long as you really care about it and are passionate, then it’s easy to get involved and stay with it. It’s important to feel strongly about what you’re doing.
What would you say to those who might not know much about bone marrow donation?
My goal has been to raise awareness about bone marrow donation. It’s so important to me to educate people about donating and how to do it. It’s easy: All you have to do is swab the inside of your cheek with a Q-tip and sign up on the list. If you match up with someone who needs bone marrow, then you’ll be contacted. You could save someone’s life!
For more info on Patrick and Driving for Donors, CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE to see where the Take Action Tour is heading towards next.
Which is your fave charitable organization? Would you consider being a bone marrow donor? Blog about it, babes.
By: Megan Parker
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