Football hosts "Be the Match" drive
NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina football team will once
again hold its third annual "Be the Match" bone marrow registry
drive sponsored by the National Bone Marrow Donors Program and the
Rhode Island Blood Center on Wednesday, April 9, from 11 a.m. until
2 p.m.
"Be the Match" is a national registry drive for bone marrow
donors, will be held at Rodgers Recreation Center. Salve Regina's
football team is leading the charge with the support of the
university's athletics department, and they're encouraging the
entire campus community to join them in the fight against leukemia,
lymphoma and other blood disorders.
The procedure requires a simple swab of cheek cells,
administered by the Rhode Island Blood Center for its "Be the Match
Registry." Donors determined to be a potential match would be asked
to provide a follow-up blood sample to confirm, and then, following
an information session and physical exam, it would be "decision
time."
Over the last two years, the drive held at Salve Regina has led to
four donors matching someone in need of bone marrow.
The Seahawks held one of the most successful marrow donor drives Salve Regina's campus has seen in 2013 and was honored with the "Be the Match Bone Marrow Program Award" from the Rhode Island Blood Center last Thursday. Rhode Island Governor Lincoln D. Chafee presented the team with the governor's citation in honor of the award. The Seahawks also received special recognition from Congressman James R. Langevin in honor of receiving the "Be the Match" donor's award.
Members of the Salve Regina community are encouraged to participate if they're between the ages of 18 and 44, are in good health and are willing to donate to any person. You remain on the registry list until you are 60. There is no charge.
For more information on the Rhode Island Blood Center's National Marrow Donor Program, call 401-248-5720 or visit www.marrow.org.