See, hip-hop mogul 50 Cent is a nice guy after all. Just don't tell his nemeses Rick Ross and Fat Joe.
The tough-guy rapper, who just premiered his new film Twelve last week, recently registered as a bone marrow donor in an effort to help a young actress diagnosed with leukemia.
When 50 Cent heard that 11-year-old Shannon Tavarez needed a bone marrow transplant, he and G-Unit member Tony Yayo registered with DKMS and were added to the Be The Match Registry
Before she was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, Tavarez had a co-starring role as young Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King.
Tavarez's story made 50 Cent think about his own child. "My son is just a couple years older than Shannon and I can't imagine if his life was needlessly cut short when there is someone out there that could save him," the rap star said in a statement.
"Shannon's chances of finding a matching donor are slim because she's African American and Dominican and minorities are underrepresented in the national registry," he added. "Everyone, regardless of their race or ethnicity deserves a fair chance at life. Registering to become a bone marrow donor starts with a cheek swab but it's more than that. It's a commitment to save a life."
DKMS is the largest bone-marrow donor center in the world, with more than 2 million registered donors. To sign up as a bone marrow donor visit GetSwabbed.org. Registrants have to be 18 to 55 years old and in good health.
