11-year old Queens native Shannon Tavarez was diagnosed with acute leukemia and just received an umbilical-cord blood transplant at a children’s hospital on Long Island. The procedure was performed as an alternative to a bone marrow transplant. The Queens actress played Nala in “The Lion King” on Broadway until her illness forced her to quit in April. Her aunt thanks 50 Cent for raising money as well as awareness. *Video:| bone marrow drive for lion king actress shannon tavarez |