For more than two decades, the Landon community has stepped up in the spirit of kindness, courage, and service. Landon students and faculty have saved lives by donating bone marrow to people with life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.
It started in 2003 with Andy Katz, Upper School Math Teacher and Form VI Dean, whose 10-year-old niece Amy was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
Katz jumped into action alongside family and friends to form Amy’s Army. They began hosting registration drives to get people signed up as potential stem cell and bone marrow donors.
One of those drives is held at Landon. Seniors, faculty, and staff are given the opportunity to register for the National Marrow Donation Program every spring.
Teddy Tibbs ’23, now a sophomore at Georgetown University, shared details of his recent success story. He registered on Commencement morning in what he described as a split-second decision.
"I saw my class's leaders put away their fears about the process in order to sign up and save lives. Only Landon could take a day about personal accomplishment, like graduation, and make it into a day about others,” said Tibbs. “It's traditions like these that make Landon a place where any parent would be proud to send their son.”
He donated stem cells in April 2024, at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital during a non-invasive procedure.
"I would compare my procedure to giving blood for five hours. After the procedure, I recovered very quickly and was able to resume club sports on my college campus. Since then, I have talked to both alumni and faculty at different stages of the process,” Tibbs said.
One of those faculty members is English Department Chair and Upper School English Teacher David Smith, who registered in one of the first drives Katz held at Landon.
“In February [2024], I got a note from The National Marrow Donation Program (NMDP) saying that I might be a match for someone, and, would I want to explore the possibility of donating?" Smith recalled. “What an incredible opportunity to save someone’s life. So, of course, I said yes.”
Smith said his surgical team withdrew .9 liters of marrow from his hips and he was able to resume exercising, coaching, and teaching duties within 24 hours.
In the past six years, more than 250 members of the Landon community have been swabbed, leading to 24 matches and at least five transplants.
2024: 49 swabbed
2023: 59 swabbed, 4 matches, 1 transplant
2022: 30 swabbed, 2 matches
2021: 32 swabbed, 7 matches
2019: 47 swabbed, 6 matches, 1 transplant
2018: 45 swabbed, 5 matches, 2 transplants
Will Buckingham ’13 and his brother Jay ’04 both matched and donated. Will described his experience as one of the most fulfilling of his life.
“I would do it again in a heartbeat if I am called upon," said Will.
Confirmed donors: David Smith, Teddy Tibbs '23, Jay Budin '19, Spencer Davis '18, Mike Mehlman '18, Will Buckingham '13, Tyler Murray '11, Jay Buckingham '04, Johnny Greenwald '04
“It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the positive impact at Landon, knowing that lives are being saved,” Katz said. “While my initial motivation was to help my niece, this program has ultimately supported numerous families in need.
“Cancer is a relentless disease, and although the ultimate goal is eradication, our focus remains on providing immediate assistance to those affected.”
Amy, now 32 years old, has been receiving targeted therapy since her diagnosis. She paused the treatment to have a baby, and recently celebrated her son’s first birthday.
As the program enters its third decade, Katz, Tibbs, Smith, and Buckingham are hopeful even more members of the Landon community will join the registry and contribute to this life-saving cause.
“Joining the database and donating bone marrow has brought great meaning to my life, and it will do the same to yours,” said Tibbs.