Chris Dunkin’s life changed forever in 2004.

That’s when Dunkin was diagnosed with Leukemia — cancer of the blood cells.

Leukemia starts in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside most bones, where blood cells are made.

Soon after his diagnosis, Dunkin had a bone marrow transplant. His donor was his sister.

Over the next 11 years, Dunkin also had numerous blood transfusions as part of his treatment.

The Greenville native passed away June 29, 2015.

He was 44.

On Jan. 9, organizers of the Fort Dale Academy Deer Hunt will host an event to help identify possible bone marrow donors for Be the Match.

“Chris was a member of our committee and to honor him we’re having Be The Match come down to sign up people for their donor registry,” said Ken Corley.

During the past 25 years Be The Match, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program, has managed the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world.

To join the Be the Match registry, one must be between the ages of 18 and 44, be in general good health and be willing to donate to any patient he or she may be a match for.

More than 14,000 patients every year depend on Be The Match for a donor.

The Fort Dale “Be the Match” event will be held at the Butler County Fairgrounds from noon to 4 p.m.

Free Conecuh Sausage dogs and drinks will be served.

For more information contact Rachel Harris at rharris@nmdp.org or call (205) 552-9371.

If one would like to join the registry but can’t attend the event, he or she can join at join.bethematch.org/fortdaledeerhunt. The promotional code is fortdaledeerhunt.