Swabbing for Shannon: Broadway Community Rallies Around Former Star's Legacy 15 Years After Her Passing
A powerful gathering took place at The Museum of Broadway on Wednesday, as the community came together to honor the memory of Shannon Tavarez, a talented young actress who lost her battle with leukemia in 2010. Tavarez, just 11 years old when she passed away, was known for her shining personality and impressive talent, having landed the role of young Nala in Broadway's 'The Lion King' at the tender age of 10.
Shannon's family, particularly her mother Odiney Brown, has continued to advocate for bone marrow donation, a cause close to their hearts. In an emotional interview with ABC News, Brown recounted how they searched desperately for a bone marrow match for Shannon, only to be met with daunting statistics - only about 6% of African Americans are registered, leaving her chances at finding a 100% match dwindling to just 29%.
However, the entire Broadway community stepped up to help Tavarez in her time of need. The cast and crew rallied around her, including L. Steven Taylor, who plays Mufasa in 'The Lion King', saying Shannon was "a pleasure to have and then to have her go through what she went through and still be that person, full of life, full of passion, and uniting people all the way to the end really speaks to who she is."
This year's event, called "Casting the Role of a Lifeline," serves as a reminder of the importance of bone marrow donation. The process is simple: just one cheek swab and filling out a form - but it could be the difference between life and death for those in need.
The Tavarez family has established a foundation to continue Shannon's legacy, encouraging people from diverse communities, especially those of color, to register as donors. And they are urging others to follow suit, saying "you just never know" who might be in need of a lifesaving transplant someday.
For more information on becoming a donor and learning about Shannon Tavarez's inspiring story, visit https://www.dkms.org/ and https://shannonsshare.org/, respectively.
A powerful gathering took place at The Museum of Broadway on Wednesday, as the community came together to honor the memory of Shannon Tavarez, a talented young actress who lost her battle with leukemia in 2010. Tavarez, just 11 years old when she passed away, was known for her shining personality and impressive talent, having landed the role of young Nala in Broadway's 'The Lion King' at the tender age of 10.
Shannon's family, particularly her mother Odiney Brown, has continued to advocate for bone marrow donation, a cause close to their hearts. In an emotional interview with ABC News, Brown recounted how they searched desperately for a bone marrow match for Shannon, only to be met with daunting statistics - only about 6% of African Americans are registered, leaving her chances at finding a 100% match dwindling to just 29%.
However, the entire Broadway community stepped up to help Tavarez in her time of need. The cast and crew rallied around her, including L. Steven Taylor, who plays Mufasa in 'The Lion King', saying Shannon was "a pleasure to have and then to have her go through what she went through and still be that person, full of life, full of passion, and uniting people all the way to the end really speaks to who she is."
This year's event, called "Casting the Role of a Lifeline," serves as a reminder of the importance of bone marrow donation. The process is simple: just one cheek swab and filling out a form - but it could be the difference between life and death for those in need.
The Tavarez family has established a foundation to continue Shannon's legacy, encouraging people from diverse communities, especially those of color, to register as donors. And they are urging others to follow suit, saying "you just never know" who might be in need of a lifesaving transplant someday.
For more information on becoming a donor and learning about Shannon Tavarez's inspiring story, visit https://www.dkms.org/ and https://shannonsshare.org/, respectively.
I THINK IT'S AMAZING HOW THE BROADWAY COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER LIKE THIS! SHANNON TAVALARZ WAS SUCH A YOUNG GIRL WITH SO MUCH POTENTIAL, AND HER LEGACY LIVES ON THROUGH ALL OF US 
. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE TALENT OR THE PARTS, IT'S ABOUT THE PERSON BEHIND IT ALL... AND SHANNON TRULY WERE THAT GUY! 
shannons story is so sad but also super inspiring like wow the whole broadway community came together for her its so cool 
my mum always says that one cheek swab can literally save a life thats wild lol what do you think about bone marrow donation btw did u know that only 6% of ppl in the usa r african american lol my grandma has leukemia too shes been through like so much dont think about Shannon tho she was literally just 11 when she passed lol anyway just saw this video of shannon from Broadway and OMG her smile was SO BIG 
! The stats for bone marrow donation are crazy low and it's time we do more to help those in need.
I'm so emotional just thinking about Shannon's story 
... 15 years ago she was shining bright on Broadway at such a young age 
, and it breaks my heart to think that her life was cut short 
. But what warms my heart is the outpouring of love from the entire community 
, especially the cast and crew of 'The Lion King' who are still standing by Shannon's legacy 
. And let's not forget Odiney Brown's courage in advocating for bone marrow donation 
... it's so simple yet makes such a huge difference! I hope more people take notice and sign up to be donors 
, especially from diverse communities who need it most 
, spreading love and hope wherever they go 
.
- the whole Broadway community coming together to help her was truly heartwarming 
Anyway, I'm all for spreading awareness and getting more people to sign up. If one cheek swab can literally be the difference between life and death, then we gotta do this 
! Shannon's legacy lives on through her family's foundation, and I love that they're pushing for more diversity in donors 
. Let's get everyone involved, you feel? 
Anyway, I just wanted to say that Shannon's story is truly heartbreaking but also super inspiring. I love how her family kept pushing for bone marrow donation awareness, especially within the African American community. It's crazy to think that there are only 6% of people registered - that's like, a small percentage of our communities! 
one cheek swab can save a life let's do this 
. It's so heartbreaking to think that she went through so much pain and struggle before we could even offer her the chance to live another day, but at least now her legacy lives on through her family's foundation 
.
thats so young! i feel like we're still trying to get over her loss and now her family is fighting for a cause that affects them directly 
lets keep shamons memory alive by helping others 