CITY OF NEWTON
City of Newton staff are coming together to support long-time co-worker Mike Headings, who was diagnosed earlier this year with a rare form of leukemia known as T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia, or TPLL. The only cure is a stem cell transplant.
City staff have partnered with the organization NMDP to find a potential donor match. Two donor drive events are planned:
• Noon-5 p.m. Thursday, July 10 at City Hall, 201 E. 6th St., in the third floor Commission Room
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, July 12 at Newton Rec Center, 415 N. Poplar, in the Sunflower Room
The registration process for donors only takes a few minutes, including a painless cheek swab. Adults aged 18 to 40 who are in good health are eligible.
Even if you cannot make it to an in-person drive, you can still be placed on the registry after completing an at-home test. Just text Hope4Mike to 61474 or visit my.nmdp.org to start the registration process.
Headings has worked for the City of Newton for more than 26 years as a civil engineer. He and his wife, Jessica, have two sons, Logan and Cody, who are both in college.