Lincoln Park Zoo is inviting Chicagoans to join the bone marrow registry and be a hero for a hero. Joining the registry is free and easy, and can, literally, save a life.

The drive is being hosted in honor of Roy Chelsen, a New York City firefighter with Chicago ties, who was a first responder to the World Trade Center attack on Sept. 11, 2001.

He is credited with saving the lives of six other firefighters that day. Because of his heroism following the terrorist attack, Roy is now in a fight for his own life. Roy, like several other 9/11 first responders, has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a fatal immune system cancer.

A bone marrow donor could save his life – but he needs to find a match. You could be the one who saves his life.

Registration is easy! A consent form is filled out to acknowledge a willingness to donate if a match is made. Then a swab of the cheek is taken and the tissue type is added to the registry.