Wardens join stem cell drive to aid one of their own, others

Maine’s game wardens have a history of jumping into action when one of their own needs help.

Maine Game Warden Maj. Gregory Sanboron (left) receives the Colonel's Award from Wdn. Col. Joel Wilkinson during the Maine Warden Service banquet in April. Sanborn is battling cancer and his fellow wardens are participating in a stem cell drive that will be held in Orono on April 25. BDN Photo by John Holyoke.

On Wednesday, they’ll do just that for a colleague who is facing a battle with cancer.
According to staffers at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, about 50 wardens will head to the University of Maine in Orono to take part in a stem cell donor drive that will be held in the Bangor Room of the Student Union from noon until 4 p.m.

Potential donors are being sought for Wdn. Maj. Gregory Sanborn, who will be facing a stem cell transplant in early May, should a matching donor be found. Sanborn does not yet have a donor, and a worldwide search is under way.

I’ve had plenty of contact with Sanborn over the past decade, and have always enjoyed our discussions. He listened patiently when I told him stories about my moose hunt … I reciprocated when his name was finally drawn a couple of years later.

He’s a straight-shooting, friendly guy who is proud of what he and others like him do to protect and conserve our natural resources.

But this drive isn’t just about Gregg Sanborn: If you decide to take part, you might be able to help someone like him. Far too many folks around the world are waiting for a stem cell or bone marrow transplant, and your participation could be just what one such patient needs as they battle for their lives.

A $100 donation is requested from those seeking to become donors.

If you’re interested in pitching in or learning more, contact Wdn. Dan Carroll Jr., the president of the Maine Warden Relief Association, at dan.carroll@maine.gov.

John Holyoke

About John Holyoke

John Holyoke has been enjoying himself in Maine's great outdoors since he was a kid. Today, he's the Outdoors editor for the BDN, a job that allows him to meet up with Maine outdoors enthusiasts in their natural habitat. The stories he gathers provide fodder for his columns, and this blog.