CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Former Zumba instructor Cristina Rodriguez leads a flash mob at La Palmera mall in December 2010, a month before she stopped teaching because she developed a pain in her hip. She later was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Rodriguez is trying to raise awareness about the importance, especially among Hispanics, of donating bone marrow.

Photo by Rachel Denny Clow, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Cristina Rodriguez sits with her dogs Coby (left) and Flower at her home Thursday. Rodriguez, who has non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is having a Zumba benefit on Sunday and inviting people to register to donate bone marrow. Rodriguez is a former Zumba instructor.

Photo by Rachel Denny Clow, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Cristina Rodriguez sits with her dogs Coby (left) and Flower at her home Thursday.

CORPUS CHRISTI Had Cristina Rodriguez's cancer been more aggressive, had it penetrated her bones, things might have been different.

And while she has had chemotherapy, she has lost her hair and needs a stem cell treatment, but she doesn't need a bone-marrow transplant.

And for that, she's lucky.

Hispanics needing bone marrow have a harder time finding matching donors than do other ethnicities because few Hispanics have registered to donate.

"That could've easily been me," Rodriguez said.

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Former Zumba instructor with cancer encourages Hispanics to donate bone marrow

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