BY Elizabeth Hays
Sunday, July 19th 2009, 4:00 AM
Funnyman Jon Stewart is pitching in to help a fan with something that's no laughing matter.
The "Daily Show" star heard a big fan is fighting leukemia and is doing his part to cheer him up - and urging New Yorkers to show up at a bone marrow drive Sunday.
Jonathan Haupt, 32, a Washington software engineer was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the cancer this spring.
Stewart has invited Haupt to come to New York to see the Comedy Central show and tour the set when he recovers.
He has also sent a slew of "Daily Show" DVDs to help raise Haupt's spirits as he undergoes chemotherapy and awaits a bone marrow match.
Doctors have told Haupt a bone-marrow transplant is his only chance to survive the disease. A drive for Haupt will be held Sunday at the Jewish Enrichment Center at 38 W. 13th St. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"He's really struggling," said Stewart, urging New Yorkers to be tested to see if they are a match for Haupt or others like him.
"It's not giving up a kidney. It's just taking this swab test and then its a minor procedure if you're a match."
Haupt, who is of Eastern European Jewish descent, has not come close to finding a match among the 7 million registered donors on the national database, said Katharina Harf, who runs the bone marrow advocacy group DKMS.
"So much of this bone marrow stuff is matching up demographically," said Stewart, who couldn't resist throwing in a joke.
"That bone marrow he needs must be really gourmet bone marrow. You can only get it at Dean & DeLuca."
Haupt, said he watches Stewart's show "religiously" with his wife, Courtney, but that it has more meaning now.
"He doesn't know it, but he has really helped me through all of this," he said.
Thanks for your support! Please continue to keep up with my fight at teamhaupt.org
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