City of Hope Hospital will conduct a bone marrow donor drive during Simi Valley Days from noon to 6 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 12, and Sun., Sept. 13 on the carnival grounds at Rancho Simi Community Park, 1765 Erringer Road, Simi Valley.

The purpose of the drive is to find a match for a 15-month-old girl with a rare form of leukemia. Individuals age 18 to 60 who are in good physical health and have a good medical history may participate. 

The procedure takes about 15 minutes and involves four swabs to the cheek. The swabs are sent to a laboratory for further analysis. The DNA from all samples will be registered in the International Registry and could possibly be used for other medical cases.

Donors who are chosen to donate bone marrow will be given a physical exam to ensure that the procedure will not pose any special risks to either themselves or the patient. The bone marrow donating process involves a simple blood draw, similar to donating blood.

No appointments are necessary to participate in the drive. For more information, call Marion Ohler at (805) 583-3851.