Rihanna Looking For Bone Marrow Donor For 5-Year-Old Fan

Access Hollywood - February 7, 2009 6:55 PM PST
Story photo: Rihanna Looking For Bone Marrow Donor For 5-Year-Old FanRihanna waves at Verizon and Blackberry's pre-Grammy party in LAGetty ImagesAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Rihanna is nominated for three awards at this Sunday's Grammys, but first, the "Disturbia" singer has something else to attend to - saving a life.

Rihanna is helping a 5-year-old New York City girl look for a bone marrow donor, Access Hollywood has learned.

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The young girl, Jasmina, has leukemia.

"She needs a bone marrow transplant to live," Rihanna told Access. "When I saw [a] video of Jasmina, it broke my heart. It is so unfair that for a black patient it 's so much harder to find a bone marrow match."

VIEW THE PHOTOS: 2009 Grammy Nominations Concert

According to her mom, Thea Amena, Jasmina is a "huge, huge Rihanna fan."

"Last year when I was in Best Buy, Jasmina was in the store singing and dancing in front of a huge screen with Rihanna on it," she said. "The only way I could pull her away was to buy one of Rihanna 's CDs. She's been listening to it ever since."

While Jasmina has undergone chemotherapy, she needs a bone marrow transplant to survive.

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"Leukemia is the most common disease children in the U.S. die of and we need to change that," Rihanna said, urging people to sign up as a bone marrow donor with nonprofit marrow donor center DKMS.

It's not the star's first time reaching out -- a year ago, Rihanna helped a New York woman find a match, as well.

"More than 5,000 donors came forward," Katharina Harf of DKMS said. " Rihanna has already helped DKMS save many lives. Now we can count on her again."

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comments 1-10 of 306  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • Doniel G
    What the hell,All people can do is criticize and not making an effort themselves,Like we know rhianna heart's ,know one truly know's her heart ,but from all this negativity we truly know whomever writing this negativness on here,do something good ,say something good,God bless RHIANNA..........Thank's for helping out,That's good.....
    report abuseposted November 24, 2009 10:14 PM PST
  • Steven
    This is such a pathetic attempt for Rihanna to gain herself some positive press, she's only doing this for her own self image. I wonder if she's maybe spent 4 hours plus working on this. actually she most likely showed up for a photo opp, let the reporter put in a line about her helping this poor kid, and bam, she was off to her shopping spree, that's that. she's
    report abuseposted April 9, 2009 5:02 PM PDT
  • god bless u why all ya have to be hating on her CBis cool but he needs help! i will be praying for the little girl CB and Rihanna good luck love ya !!!
    report abuseposted April 8, 2009 12:02 AM PDT
  • jinglejangle
    Rihanna is so freaking awesome. Such a freaking hot woman. Her song disturbia is awesome, and I'm glad she is such a great person to care about a fan so much and to try so hard for her. Rihanna's smile could melt the freaking biggest glacier in the North Pole. I freaking looooooove her! She's awesome!!
    report abuseposted March 26, 2009 2:16 AM PDT
  • shortie
    the hellllllllll wit her!!!!!! i don't like her and i love chris. why why why he did't pick jordan sparks to be wit. rihanna is a bit much. i don't care for the child at all.
    report abuseposted March 4, 2009 8:03 AM PST
  • mary
    People educating themselves so they can work and afford to support the children they bring into the world , it boggles my mind how many people wallow in self pity . Just like ms-having 14 kids ,sits in her chair oblivious to the fact she cannot afford nor care for 14 small children , nor did not share with her parents all the state money she received-why is America angry because we pay-
    report abuseposted February 19, 2009 12:06 PM PST
  • mary
    hykawds ARE YOU STUPID ? abuse in any form should not be tolerated because the idiot is a star ,bad behavior and violating someone ,hitting them biting them ,the ass should be in jail ,and probably will be and guess what if he did it once he will probably or has done it in the past and will in the future.The cycle of violence needs to end , STOP violence,people need to love more HATE less....
    report abuseposted February 19, 2009 11:59 AM PST
  • fampire
    awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww thats nice of her
    report abuseposted February 11, 2009 11:21 PM PST
  • Ashley
    Brittanyy: I know where you are coming from, but: It actually does matter what color you are, as well as your gender, blood type and at least 15 other points of refrence. You cant just take blood or marrow afrom one person and put it in another person. Same as hearts and other organs. If the donor marrow is not compatable with the patient reciving it the body will reject it and die. just FYI.
    report abuseposted February 10, 2009 10:54 PM PST
  • Crystal N
    I go to Preston High School in the Bronx and DKMS is working with us to have a bone marrow drive. Rihanna should come.
    report abuseposted February 10, 2009 3:28 AM PST
comments 1-10 of 306  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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