As a world-champion weight lifter, gardener and bluegrass fiddle player, veteran Hammond firefighter Mark Sanders is a pretty unique guy to his friends and family.

But when a routine physical revealed he has a rare blood disease and needs a bone marrow transplant, everyone found out just how unique: none of the 12 million members in a worldwide DNA registry was a close enough match to provide the cells to cure him.

Treatment of primary myelofibrosis from a less-than-ideal donor is possible, according to specialists, though with an average prognosis of an eight-year life span.

But with one young grandchild, and another expected next month, Sanders, 53, is looking for that perfect transplant that holds the promise of a life with few complications.

And so are his friends, who will be conducting a pair of donor drives this month in Hammond and Crown Point where, with a painless cheek swab, volunteers can offer their help, as well as become a part of the National Marrow Donor Program.

"We've been swamped with calls," said Hammond Fire Chief David Hamm, who will host the first of the sessions June 19 at the Central Fire Station.

Hamm went to high school with Sanders, whose father was a deputy chief with the Hammond Fire Department when he signed up 18 years ago. And the legacy continued when Sanders' son, Eric, joined the force in 2006.

Sanders also is a four-time world champion in bench press at the World Police and Fire Games, an Olympic-style competition of public safety athletes from around the world.

His world record of 451.9 pounds (translated from the international kilograms) still stands, and he brought home the gold and set records at games in Canada, Sweden, Spain and Indianapolis, benching more than 400 pounds eight years in a row.

These days, though, the anemia that led to his myelofibrosis diagnosis doesn't allow for much weight lifting, said Sanders, whose condition requires weekly monitoring and regular blood transfusions.

On medical leave from fighting fires, Sanders said he spends his time sprucing up the 19th century Victorian home in Lowell he and his wife bought seven years ago, and tending to his gardens.

"The peonies are blooming," Sanders said of his horticultural endeavors, which have been featured in the Lowell Garden Club's annual Garden Walk.

The local registration drives coincide with the donor program's nationwide Be the Match promotion, which seeks to link up individuals in support of the more than 4,300 transplants each year arranged by the registry.

Supported by NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon, the donor program helps people suffering with leukemia and other common diseases, as well as myelofibrosis, which affects only about two in a million.

At the local drives, the first 100 registrants on each day will be allowed to join for free, but the usual $52 cost of the testing will be reduced to $30 for those coming later.

Because of a great need for minority donors, anyone who is African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American or of mixed heritage can join the registry at no cost any time.

Local Be the Match donor drives in honor of Hammond firefighter Mark Sanders will be from:

-- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 19 at Hammond Central Fire Station, 6110 Calumet Ave., Hammond

-- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 20 at Burrell Colour, 1311 Merrillville Road, Crown Point

For more information about the bone marrow and stem cell donor process and the registry, visit www.BetheMatch.org.