New Year’s Day isn’t an occasion when one traditionally goes out to “do good” in the world. Instead, it’s once last chance for overindulging; for eating greens and black-eyed peas for good luck; for soaking up as much football as possible.

But today, New Year’s Day 2011, is different. Today, local residents have an opportunity – with only a very short time commitment – of truly helping by joining the national bone marrow registry.

A bone marrow drive is set for 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. today, Sat., Jan. 1, in the PowerSouth board room.

Unlike blood drives, there are no uncomfortable “sticks” involved in being a part of a bone marrow drive. Instead, the process involves a cheek swab and only takes a minute or two. The results are tested, and volunteers are entered into a national bone marrow registry.

In particular, this drive has been organized in hopes of finding a bone marrow donor who could potentially save Amanda Bradley’s life. The Andalusia native is a 33-year-old mother of three who needs a bone marrow transplant to overcome aplastic anemia, a condition in which her body’s blood-producing bone marrow has shut down.

But there are countless people like Amanda across the United States for whom finding a donor could mean life or death.

We hope you’ll take time to participate today. Organizers have promised to have football on the big screen in the conference room for those who can’t get enough.