TEEN INSPIRES SUNSHINE HIKE; FUND-RAISER AIDS DRIVE TO FIND BONE MARROW DONOR MATCHES.

Byline: Sonia Giordani Daily News Staff Writer

Kicking off a regional campaign to sign up potential bone marrow donors for free blood tests, more than 150 Thousand Oaks residents took the first steps Sunday in a walkathon that raised more than $5,000.

With a matching grant from the National Marrow Donor Program, the funds will cover the cost of testing more than 200 potential donors to see if their bone marrow might benefit one of the more than 2,000 people in the country who need transplants.

``The more people who sign up, the better the chances of finding a donor match for someone who needs a transplant,'' said Valerie Sun, the 15-year-old Thousand Oaks resident who inspired Sunday's fund-raiser.

For nearly five years, Sun has been waiting for the right bone marrow donor. Diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a condition in which her own bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells, Sun has depended on monthly blood transfusions and will continue to require them until she finds a compatible bone marrow donor.

``I'm still looking for a match,'' said Sun, a senior at Thousand Oaks High School who has worked with the Camarillo chapter of the National Marrow Donor Program for several years.

Members of the United Methodist Church in Thousand Oaks gathered Sunday for a 5K and 10K walkathon to honor Sun and to support the donor program.

``Our goal was $4,500, but I think we have passed that,'' said Diane Wiley, director of the youth choir at the church and a key organizer for the Walk In The Sun Walkathon.

``Our next goal is to get people signed up for the next testing date next month,'' Wiley said.

More than 150 area residents spent weeks gathering sponsors and raising money for Sunday's walk. The funds will pay for more than 200 potential donors to receive free tests at a donor drive held at the church on Nov. 22.

``It's amazing how much everyone has come together to pull this together. I am very grateful,'' said Michele Brown, Sun's mother.

``I know that even if we don't find a match for Valerie, this drive will help find one for another child who needs a transplant,'' Brown said.

Sun, who is half Asian and half Caucasian, said doctors have told her that her chances of finding the right donor match may be smaller because blood tissue types are inherited and some are unique to certain racial or ethnic groups.

``It's a numbers game. The more people that sign up to test, the better the chances that Valerie and others will find a match,'' said Richard Lolley, a Thousand Oaks man who two years ago signed up in a national registry.

Lolley said he was a bit uncertain about what to expect. Last February, however, he received a call that his bone marrow matched that of an area woman who needed a transplant.

``I had a good experience. I was awake for the whole process,'' said Lolley, who explained that the transplant procedure required only an overnight stay in the hospital.

``I laid around for a couple of days and was a little stiff. But I was back at work within days,'' he said, adding that he would be willing to donate again if his bone marrow matches another person in need.

Melissa Bayles and her 8-year-old daughter, Adrienne, waited near the starting line Sunday early afternoon before the walk began.

``I think this is a very important cause. My husband and I wanted our children to walk, too, because we want them to learn about this and to be aware,'' said Bayles.

For more information about the National Marrow Donor Program, call the regional office in Camarillo at [phone].

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1) The Walk in the Sun fund-raiser was inspired by Thousand Oaks teen Valerie Sun, who has been waiting nearly five years for a matching bone marrow donor.

(2--3) Participants in Sunday's walkathon benefit for the area chapter of the National Marrow Donor Program received a T-shirt, left. An hour before the event started, there were already 110 preregistered walkers on Whitecliff Road in Thousand Oaks, above.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News