Some sad news in the writer’s community in Canada - Emru Townsend

A blog about cancer does, sadly, have to include some sad news from time to time - and this is one of those times.

In December 2007, journalist, teacher, technical writer and website designer, Emru Townsend was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukemia. His only chance was getting bone marrow and the chance of finding a matching donor were very slim. Emru was of Caribbean descent and that ethnic group is sorely under-represented in the bone marrow registries of North America.

Against all odds, a match was found and in early September 2008, Emru received a stem cell transplant and things looked up at first. Unfortunately, the leukemia was too strong and he lost his fight on November 11, at around 10 pm.

Emru was a popular figure in the writing community. Many members of the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) are mourning his death as he had been an active member of PWAC before he left a few years ago. He also touched many people in the other parts of his life, not to mention his family and friends. Emru left behind his parents, his sister, and his wife Vicky and son Max.

Emru made it his mission to promote the need for getting people listed on the bone marrow registry. You can read about Emru at HealEmru.com. You can also read about his journey through his blog.

God speed Emru.

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Tags: cancer blog, emru townsend, emru, leukemia, bone marrow registry, bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant