April 25, 2013
Photo Gallery
Bronx, N.Y. -
When the Fordham football program decided to participate with the "Be a Match" registry, helping to sign up fellow students to the national bone marrow donation list, the Rams had a goal of registering 200 people. But Fordham students, who continually demonstrate the Jesuit philosophy of "men and women for others", proved that the football Rams underestimated their desire to help, turning out in force and more than doubling the expected number of donors.
When the Rams showed up to the McGinley Center this morning just before the start time of 9:00 a.m., there was already a line students formed, waiting to sign up. By closing time at 3:00 p.m., the Fordham football program registered 476 potential donors, more than doubling their original goal. It has not been confirmed but it is believed that the 476 registrants is a new record with the "Be The Match Registry" program for a first-time drive.
"This was an outstanding event for a very worthwhile cause," said head coach Joe Moorhead. "The players worked very hard at encouraging their fellow students to come out and participate and to have more than 400 students register is an amazing feat."
The Be The Match Registry is geared towards increasing the number of potential bone marrow donors. Participants completed a quick registration form and then submitted a swab of cheek cells using a cotton swab to determine tissue type.
Thousands of people with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases depend on the Be The Match Registry to find a match, an unrelated donor who can help give then a second chance at life.
Be The Match Registry® is the donor registry operated by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). They've been helping patients receive the transplants they need for more than 25 years.
Now, medical advances are making transplants available to more patients of all ages than ever before.
Be The Match® was introduced in 2009 to meet this need by engaging a growing community of people inspired and committed to help patients in any way they can - by joining the registry, donating umbilical cord blood, contributing financially or getting involved .
The National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP), a nonprofit organization, is the global leader in providing bone marrow and umbilical cord blood transplants to patients in need. As Be The Match®, it operates the Be The Match Registry®, the world's largest listing of potential marrow donors and donated cord blood units and raise funds to help provide transplants to all patients through the Be The Match Foundation®. They also match patients with donors, educate health care professionals and conduct research through their research arm, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research® (CIBMTR), so more lives can be saved.
