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March for Marrow TX 2026
The Woodlands,Texas
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Welcome to the 17th Annual March for Marrow, our sixth event in The Woodlands, will be held at the beautiful Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Dr, The Woodlands, TX.
We invite everyone across the state of Texas to be with us in-person or virtually as we celebrate being together. We will stand with our arms outstretched from Houston to El Paso and from Amarillo to Brownsville, from east to west and north to south.
The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation provides education, support, and hope for patients living with aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and related bone marrow failure diseases.
You can support the work of AAMDSIF creating a team and joining us in-person on March 28, 2026. Can’t be there on March 28th? Support your favorite team as a virtual walker/runner, or simply donate to March for Marrow TX.
Our mission as Texas patients, family members and friends is to raise awareness about bone marrow failure diseases and funds for patient services,
research for better treatments and cures for bone marrow failure diseases!
DETAILS
When
7:30 to 11:30 a.m., March 28, 2026, in-person OR virtually!
Raffle Drawing, 10:30 am, Saturday, March 28, 2026. For those of you buying tickets online the deadline for online purchases is Friday, March 27, 2026, at 11:00 am CDT. .
Who
Patients, family members, friends and advocates, register online, tell your story and set a goal to support AAMDSIF! Any and all Texans are welcome to join us for the day as well!
Doctors, Nurses, Research Fellows – make this a fun, competitive run or walk with your colleagues. Most spirited or largest team gets a prize!!! Running time is optional.
Where
Together! At Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77380. Or run or walk through your neighborhood wherever you live, on your treadmill, around your local Mall, or... donate and sleep in!
What
We can't say it often enough! Our mission is to raise awareness about rare bone marrow failure diseases and funds to support the patient & family services provided by AAMDSIF and research for better treatments and CURES!
Participants will receive a t-shirt, goodie bag and we will award medals for the winners of each age category!
Post your selfies at https://www.facebook.com/hopesteps.curetexas/! You can help us make this historic March for Marrow a huge success!
Raffle
The 2026 Raffle is taking shape with a lot of exciting prizes.
We are always looking for exciting items, experiences, or services with a Texas flair to offer our fans. If you know a spa/hotel, winery, museum or playhouse, jeweler, restaurant, or other business and can ask them for a donation, we can provide you with the proper paperwork to verify our non-profit status.
Registration Options
Adult Walker or Runner (Age 21+, non-students): $35 each
Student Walker or Runner (14 to 21 enrolled in high school or college): $20 each
Youth Walker (6 to 13): $10 each
Youth Runner (6 to 13): $15 each
Children 5 and under: Free - donations accepted
Team Pricing Available
Adult Team Discounts
Adult Running Teams of 5 or more (Age 21 and older); $30 each; Coach or Team Organizer download the form for Adult Team Registration and contact the Race Director.
Students Running or Walking Teams of 5 or more, $15 each; Coach or Team Organizer download the attached form for Student Team Registration and contact the Race Director.
Youth Running or Walking Teams of 5 or more, $12 each; Coach or Team Organizer download the attached form for Youth Team Registration and contact the Race Director.
Packet Pick-up
Packet and Bib Pick-Up is scheduled for Thursday,10am to 2pm, March 26, 2026, at Fleet Feet Sports, 1925 Hughes Landing Blvd, The Woodlands, Texas 77380. Everything will be available at Registration, Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Schedule
7:30 am - Walk & 5K Registration and Packet Pick-Up
7:30 am - Raffle Ticket Sales Open
8:00 am to 11:00 am - Team Cheers and Photos; Recognition of Sponsors, Teams, and Volunteers, Brave Little Soles Activities Available
8:30 am - Group Photo and 5K Start
8:40 am - Walk Start
9:15 am - Awards
10:15 am- End of Raffle Tickets Sales
10:40 am - Moment of Remembrance with 2026 Star Dianne Witter
11:00 am - End of Raffle & Announcement of Winners
11:30 am - Close & Invitation to M4M The Woodlands 2027
BJ's Restaurants & Brewhouses
Between now and March 27, 2026, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse (all locations) will donate 20% of your online or dine-in food and soft beverage purchases toward your team fundraising goal.
Plan now to kick off your team fundraising, celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or other special event at your local BJ’s. BJ's Restaurants & Brewhouse locations are everywhere in Texas! https://www.bjsrestaurants.com/locations
Promote through our Facebook and social media and yours: https://www.bjsrestaurants.com/community/fundraisers.
Stephanie Hamm can help.
Event Hotel
MARCH FOR MARROW ROOM BLOCK MARCH 26-29, 2026. Home2 Suites at 223 David Vetter Blvd., Shenandoah, TX 77385, off IH 45 is our event hotel again this year.
ABOUT
The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AAMDSIF) is the world's leading nonprofit health organization for patients and families living with aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and related bone marrow failure diseases.
The Foundation’s strength stems from the multi-faceted community it developed over 35+ years. AAMDSIF serves and educates the patient population and health professionals and provides financial support to clinical researchers searching for better treatments and cures.
AAMDSIF has been awarded the highest rating for transparency and results from Candid/Guidestar one of America’s largest independent charity evaluator. Only 1 percent of all American charities achieve this recognition for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Woodlands, TX event committee is a wonderful group of Texas volunteers who work together throughout the year to plan this event!
Thank you to our Planning Committee members for all of their hard work!
Contact Stephanie Hamm to join the next Planning Committee meeting on Zoom. We need your help!
Stephanie Hamm, Chair, Sponsorships & Business Engagement
Rosalyn Jones-Waters, Community Relations
Janet ValVerde, Community Relations
Ron Duncan, Patient and Family Outreach
Isadora Caputo, Social Media & Promotions
Thomas Caputo, Graphics
Liz Williams, The Woodlands Representative
Heather & Ron Porter, Volunteer Coordinators
Steve Olson, Logistics
Bill Hamm & Elise Harper, Web Page & Fundraising Support
Volunteers: Mu Beta Phi Military Fraternity Inc. SpaceCity Kings
More Volunteers needed!
VOLUNTEER
The success of this event depends on our volunteers. Our greatest need is help with social media and promotions. Our second greatest need is recruitment of exciting items for our raffle, each with a value of at least $50 and selling our raffle tickets. Our third greatest need is getting the word out with our fliers, our race cards and posters!
Contact Ron or Heather with VOLUNTEER in the subject line. See our volunteer job description here! Volunteers are encouraged to download a Waiver, fill it out, scan it to Ron or Heather or bring it with them on March 28th.
HOSA-Future Health Professional groups from local high schools are welcome as volunteers!
2026 WALK STAR: Dianne Witter
I was all set to serve as your 2025 Star but then a Texas tornado and high winds caused us to have to cancel the event. This year, I have a second chance to serve as your Star. I am wishing away any kind of bad weather on Saturday, March 28, 2026!
I was diagnosed with aplastic anemia in 2001, when my son, Taylor, was in 3rd grade. Three years later, it progressed to high-risk, often terminal, MDS. As a single mom, my greatest hope was simply to live long enough to see Taylor graduate from high school; it was my singular focus during treatment
The doctors at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center tried many options. Eventually, they worked with the NIH to get me on a not-yet-approved medication through compassionate use—Vidaza. That drug later became a standard treatment for MDS.
After four months of taking Vidaza, my blood counts completely bottomed out so they took me off the drug and started a wait-and-see phase. My prospects were pretty dismal at that point. But over the coming months, my blood counts started rising, very slowly, but steadily up. It was was several years before I reached remission, and it was at least five more years before I stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Was it the Vidaza that gave my life back? Random circumstance? I don't know why or how I'm still here, but I'm soaking up every last minute of it. Today, I’m 64 years old and have been in remission for over 15 years. They say MDS can only be cured by a bone marrow transplant, but so far I'm beating the odds big time. I not only got to be there for all of Taylor's childhood, I've been here for so much more - his college graduation, his marriage to my amazing daughter-in-law, Amaris, and the birth of their identical twins.
These days, I’m better known as “Jamma” to two smart, funny 4-year-olds, Felix and Link, who keep me on my toes and focused on the present. I'm thrilled that I'm still here on this magical planet, and I'm down for the adventure as long as it lasts!
2026 CELEBRITY STARTER: Rikki Wiggs
Rikki Wiggs is a connector at heart bringing people, purpose, and communities together to create meaningful impact. She leads marketing efforts at Healthconnect Texas, the statewide Health Information Exchange, where her work focuses on connecting healthcare and community data to improve outcomes and advance a healthier Texas.
Rikki also serves as Community Vice President of the Junior League of The Woodlands, where she has spent multiple years expanding the reach and impact of programs addressing food insecurity, literacy, and teen empowerment bringing resources to more schools, families, and individuals across the community.
A passionate advocate and experienced emcee, Rikki has led and supported fundraising efforts for organizations including Autism Speaks, Junior League of The Woodlands, and the American Heart Association, where she proudly represented Montgomery County as the 2025 Woman of Impact. She currently serves on the boards of the Giving Gown Foundation as Volunteer Coordinator, Houston HIMSS, leading marketing initiatives for local healthcare informatics professionals and is also a member of Leadership Montgomery County, Class of 2026.
Rikki lives in Montgomery County with her husband, Dean and their two high-energy pit bulls, Mulligan and Dax, who keep life lively and full of joy
National Sponsors
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Regional Sponsors
Texas Title
Texas Champion
Texas Partners
Texas Patient Allies
Texas Neighbors
Texas Friends
Raffle
Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation
(800) 747-2820 | (301) 279-7202 | 401 North Washington Street, Suite 430 | Rockville, MD 20850 | development@aamds.org
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Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation
(800) 747-2820 | (301) 279-7202 | 401 North Washington Street, Suite 430 | Rockville, MD 20850 | development@aamds.org
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CHECKOUT
Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation
(800) 747-2820 | (301) 279-7202 | 401 North Washington Street, Suite 430 | Rockville, MD 20850 | development@aamds.org
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THANK YOU!
Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation
(800) 747-2820 | (301) 279-7202 | 401 North Washington Street, Suite 430 | Rockville, MD 20850 | development@aamds.org
Share.
Social media brings us together 24/7. Join our online community where you can report, reflect, reconnect.