The U is hosting its first drive for the National Marrow Donor Program, a nonprofit organization. The drive seeks to register those willing to donate bone marrow if they are found to be a match in the future.
Tuesday, the first day of the drive, only drew 71 people to register, with 115 registering by Wednesday.
“People think to be registered means they have to undergo a procedure, but all they do is fill out paperwork and we take four swabs of their mouths,” said Cynthia Carlson, a senior account executive for the program. “It’s completely painless.”
Alissa Ingersoll has been helping people sign up for the drive at the U.
After her husband received a vital marrow donation, Ingersoll wanted to show her appreciation by helping other patients receive necessary marrow transplants.
Her husband, Adam, a senior in accounting, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a disease that causes back pain, fever and tumors in lymph nodes, but has recovered after receiving a marrow transplant in 2008.
“Now that my husband is healthy, we wanted to find a way to give back by adding more people to the registry,” said Ingersoll, a U alumna. “I hope to be able to do this annually.”
Every year, 10,000 Americans get life-threatening diseases that can only be cured with a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor, according to statistics from the donor program.
The group’s goal is to have 1,000 donors registered by today. The group is also hoping to push for a more diverse group of donors, including Latino/as and blacks.
“Ethnic diversity is underrepresented in the registry,” Carlson said. “Patients’ matches are usually those from the same heritage because the traits are usually inherited.”
After hearing about marrow donation in her anatomy class and knowing someone who underwent treatment, Kacey Potter, a freshman in pre-pharmacy, said she was glad to donate.
Christine Tobolski, an employee for the Bennion Community Service Center, which helped sponsor the event, hopes for a big turnout.
“It’s a really easy way to be involved,” Tobolski said.
The last day to register for the donor program is today in the Union.