Steelpointe Harbor was the scene of a very dramatic event on October 17th at the Boca Oyster Bar. Steelpointe President of Operations Robert Christoph Jr. and his wife Aly hosted a Gift of Life event there that brought together a bone marrow donor and her marrow recipient for the first time.
Jennie Bunce, 25, of Redding was the marrow donor. Bunce was studying physical therapy and joined Gift of Life through a sorority event at North Carolina’s High Point University in 2016.
At the event she told News 8, “I never win or get picked for anything, but it just felt like the right thing to do,” Bunce told Gift of Life Marrow Registry. “I’m just incredibly happy and grateful to be part of something so special. It’s similar to holding the door open for someone or helping a friend in a time of need.”
Across the country in Mesa, Arizona, father-of-6, Mark Roser, 33, was battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Roser was told he needed a bone marrow transplant to survive. The match was made by Gift of Life in about six months, and the transplant took place in Phoenix. “She is a hero to all the people in my life,” said Roser.
The Christophs said they have long appreciated and contributed to Gift of Life in Miami, so it was natural for them to host the Gift of Life event at their new Steelpointe site in Bridgeport. The highlight of the evening was when Bunce and Roser met for the first time in front of cameras. They hugged shared words and introduced each other to their families. It was a touching moment for all in attendance.
If you’d like to learn more about The Gift of Life and be added to the registry go to www.giftoflife.org or call 1-561-277-6209.
