ST. LOUIS, MO  [Friday Mar.25.2005]  /Mix103FM.com/ -- After a three-year battle with leukemia, Nelly's sister Jacqueline Donahue passed away Thursday morning (March 24) in a St. Louis hospital. She was 31-years-old.

In 2003, Donahue co-founded the Jes Us 4 Jackie campaign to educate and encourage minorities to become bone-marrow donors. The campaign also raised awareness about stem-cell transplants. MTV reports that Nelly worked on behalf of his sister to raise awareness and encourage minorities to become bone-marrow donors.

In a past interview with AllHipHop.com, Nelly talked about the Jes Us 4 Jackie Foundation. Nelly explained, "Jes Us 4 Jackie is a stem cell donorship, [and it] is getting people to sign up - not just African Americans, but we do need more African Americans, because our bone marrow is more compatible then any other ethnic group on this planet, and could match so many. We are still doing the drives and my sister has not yet found a donor but we have been able to find donor for others, and hopefully save lives."

Nelly's family and the Jes Us 4 Jackie Foundation said in a statement, "We want to thank everyone for their love and support of Jackie. In particular, we want to thank those who participated in the Jes Us 4 Jackie bone-marrow drives. We are very proud of her efforts to educate and raise awareness about the disease and the need for African-Americans to join the National Donor Registry. She will always be remembered for her loving spirit, energy, courage, and unshakeable faith."

For more information about the Jes Us 4 Jackie Foundation, visit http://www.jesus4jackie.com/.

Nelly canceled his March 24th appearance in Beaumont, Texas. No announcement has yet been made on when the St. Louis rapper will resume his tour with Fat Joe and T.I.

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