In the summer of 2025, I organized something that would change my life forever — the first‑ever Hack for Marrow, a global youth hackathon dedicated to raising awareness and building solutions for bone marrow failure diseases. What began as a personal mission inspired by my mom’s diagnosis grew into a worldwide movement powered by young innovators who wanted to make a difference.
This blog is my reflection on what we built together — and why it matters.
Hack for Marrow became that mission.
A Global Hackathon With Purpose
Hack for Marrow is a week‑long virtual hackathon for teens aged 13–19, designed to empower young innovators to build solutions that support the bone marrow failure community.
During the summer of 2025, we welcomed participants from across the world, representing different cultures, time zones, and skill levels. The diversity of perspectives made the event incredibly dynamic and creative.
The event was also featured by Global Genes, one of the world’s leading rare‑disease advocacy organizations, which helped amplify our mission and connect us with families globally.
Innovation Across the Board
Every participant brought something unique. Projects included:
AI‑powered awareness and education tools
Patient‑support and mental‑health platforms
Risk‑prediction concepts
Data‑driven research ideas
Apps designed to help families track symptoms and resources
Many students were first‑time coders, yet they pushed themselves to learn, collaborate, and build something meaningful. It showed me that when youth are given a mission, they don’t just participate — they innovate.
Our 2025 Judges
I’m grateful to have had an incredible panel of judges who supported Hack 4 Marrow with their time and expertise:
Hari Gopalkrishnan — Chief Technology & Information Officer, Bank of America
Dr. Daria Babushok — Physician‑Scientist & Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Adam Hocek — Founder, Aecho
Dr. Mumu Xu — Associate Professor, University of Maryland
Thank you to each of them for helping guide and inspire our participants.
One of the most meaningful outcomes of Hack 4 Marrow was its fundraising impact. In 2025, we raised thousands of dollars for the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AAMDSIF) — supporting research, patient services, and advocacy.
Knowing that a youth‑led event could make a real contribution to families like mine was incredibly fulfilling.
Supported by Organizations That Believe in Youth Leadership
Hack for Marrow has been supported by organizations that share our mission, including:
AAMDSIF
Global Genes
Code Yogis
Aecho
Their partnership helped us reach more students and more families than ever before.
Hack for Marrow proved what young people can accomplish when they’re given a mission and a community. It showed that awareness doesn’t have to come from large institutions — it can come from students, families, and anyone who cares enough to act.
This is just the beginning of what youth‑driven innovation can do for the bone marrow failure community.