Fifteen year-old Kenny Conidaris loves the water, especially hanging out on the beach and fishing, but it’s not fish he’s hunting for these days. He’s searching for a bone marrow match.

“I had really low energy. I couldn’t basically do anything,” explains Kenny. Four years ago, he was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia, a condition where the bone marrow fails to produce enough red and white blood cells and platelets for the body.

“Everyday, people are being diagnosed with things and everyday people are trying to find a match for their loved ones,” says Nancy Hendrick, Community Relations Coordinator for Lee Memorial Blood Centers.

Kenny’s family and Lee Memorial Health System have teamed up to hold a blood and bone marrow drive this Saturday.

“The bone marrow is a cheek swab and the cheek swab is just like a large Q-Tip. They do a large circular motion within your check and put it back in the container with all of your information,” says Hendrick. That swab and your information are then put into the National Bone Marrow Registry database.

Kenny is just one of an estimated 6,000 people looking for a match. “Even if these people don’t match Kenny per se, there’s thousands of others who need bone marrow matches,” says Kenny’s mother, Kathy. Kenny agrees. “You’re not also trying to save my life, you’re also saving thousands.”

The blood and bone marrow drive starts on Saturday at 9 a.m. and lasts until 4 p.m. at the Lani Kai Island Resort on Fort Myers Beach. Just a few moments of your time could make a lasting, life-saving impression.