When two members of St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in Anderson were diagnosed with cancer, the men’s group of the church decided they needed to do something to show their support.

Today, they will hold the Dirksen Baptists bone marrow registration drive at the church, as part of that support, said Bill Brocklebank, one of the event’s organizers.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, today, the men’s group of the church will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks and chips for anyone who registers to donate their bone marrow.

Bone marrow helps in the treatment of many forms of cancer, according to the National Marrow Donor Program.

“On any given day, more than 6,000 men, women and children are searching the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry for a life-saving donor. ... These patients have leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases that can be treated by a bone marrow or cord blood transplant. For many of these patients, a transplant may be the best and only hope of a cure,” according to the Web site.

Donating bone marrow begins at these types of drives. Those interested in giving their bone marrow are asked a number of questions, including their age and medical history.

“From that point, if you prove to be a healthy donor, we’ll take a q-tip and swab the inside of your cheek — four times,” Brocklebank said.

The swabs are then compared to those who need bone marrow and if a DNA match is found, the donor is prepared for their donation.

Donors would be flown to Charlotte, N.C., where the out-patient donation process takes place.

According to the program, donors who are black, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, Hispanic and Latino or of multiple races are needed to make donations.