Floyd’s 99 Barbershop Hosts Bone Marrow Registry Event

In November, Floyd’s 99 Barbershop partnered with the Love Hope Strength Foundation (LHS) and donor registry DKMS to host the largest ever one-day bone marrow swab registry event. Over 82 Floyd’s 99 barbershop locations in 10 states participated in the event, encouraging clients to register for the International Bone Marrow Registry while they waited for their haircut appointments. While waiting, clients were able to review the eligibility checklist, complete registration paperwork, get a swab packet from the reception desk, swipe one swab on each cheek, and insert the swabs into a sealed envelope to return to reception. Clients who didn’t want to register on the spot could also visit the Floyd’s 99 virtual drive event at floyds99.gotl.org to have a swab envelope sent directly to their home. If matched with a recipient, donors can help save the life of those battling leukemia, lymphoma, or other cancers and blood disorders.

The rock-and-roll-themed Floyd’s 99 Barbershop became involved with LHS through a partnership with singer-songwriter Andrew McMahon (formerly of the band Something Corporate). A leukemia survivor whose life was saved by a transplant, McMahon created the Dear Jack Foundation to raise funds for cancer research and made spreading the message of signing up for the bone marrow registry a personal mission, leading to his long-standing partnership with LHS. “The potential impact of this simple act of generosity is staggering,” says Rob O’Brien, co-owner of Floyd’s 99. “A quick swab of the cheek is all it takes to the join the fight against these diseases.”