Starlet Helps Leukemia-Stricken Teen
03:00PM ET July 13, 2010
Contributor : Jecquea Howsie
A Rocky Williform Company

Pop singer Rihanna is lending her support to save the life of an 11-year-old girl.

The singer is lending her name and superstar status to help former Broadway musical star Shannon Tavarez, who was diagnosed with acute leukemia. "Being a performer myself I know what it's like to be given the opportunity of a lifetime at a young age, and I would have been destroyed if that was taken away from me," the chart-topper said. "Shannon deserves to live and share her beautiful voice with the world."

Black Voices reports, “Rihanna, who Tavarez considers her idol, got wind of her plight and felt she had to do something to help – urging her fans to register with DKMS to save Shannon's life and the lives of other leukemia patient's life.” When I found out, it hit me really hard, like someone was throwing a ball at me," said the talented tween, who currently lives at Schneider Children's Hospital in Long Island, where she receives daily chemotherapy treatments. "It was shocking and I thought, 'Why me?'"


"When I listened to Shannon's voice, I got really sad. Her voice is so beautiful. She should be performing on Broadway, but she is confined to her bed, fighting for her life. Shannon needs to find a bone marrow donor to survive. I urge all my fans to register with DKMS," Rihanna said.

Anyone wanting to register can do so at:

www.getswabbed.org.