Clarksburg compassion

The quaint Delta community of Clarksburg showed its love on Valentine's Day for Patty Bogle, a regional leader in wine grape production who recently fell ill with cancer.

A drive for blood donations and bone marrow registration was held Thursday at Delta High School for Bogle, who is being treated in Houston for acute myeloid leukemia.

Within a couple of hours more than 100 people had flooded into the high school gym to have their blood drawn and the inside of their cheeks swabbed. They waited in folding chairs, hoping to be a tissue match for Bogle, who friends said has given endlessly to the community.

In November, the 56-year-old mother and businesswoman was diagnosed with the potentially fatal disease, which interferes with the production of normal blood cells.

"I know she would be the first one in line if any one of us was in that situation," said family friend Christopher Chan after registering on the national bone marrow list.

The Bogles' roots in Clarksburg date back 40 years when they farmed their first 20 acres of grapes. Over the years, the Bogle Vineyards and winery have become an impressive operation in the southern Yolo County town 15 miles outside Sacramento. The family business has produced a renowned wine brand sold nationally.

The Bogles' success is often credited to their dedicated staff of nearly 20 years, which Patty Bogle has supervised since the death in 1989 of her father-in law, Warren Bogle Sr. Patty Bogle took a greater role in the business when her husband, Chris Bogle, died unexpectedly in 1997 of heart disease, said her daughter Jody Bogle.

"She was making the decisions on the direction of the wines," Jody Bogle said, explaining that she and her two brothers are now managing the business.

Bogle said her mother began treatment for cancer in November. Recently, doctors found two potential bone marrow matches on the national bone marrow registry, she said.

Patty Bogle is expected to stay in Houston for another couple of months before undergoing a transplant.

"She is doing all she can do to stay positive and healthy as possible, but chemo is chemo," Jody Bogle said, adding that the outpouring of community support has been amazingly helpful.

The blood and bone marrow drive inside the Delta High School gym was proof of a community pulling together.

Businesses donated funds so that a $52 bone marrow registry fee would be waived for each participant.

Some people said they didn't know Bogle but wanted to help someone.

"If you can help one person – even if you don't know them – it's worth it," said Stacy MacDonald of West Sacramento, who said she was inspired to donate blood every eight weeks after a friend's 8-year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer.

A second bone marrow registry drive will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Yolo County Fairgrounds in Woodland, where Bogle serves on the fairgrounds board of directors.

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• Call The Bee's Lakiesha McGhee, (916) 321-1121.