Each year, 1,000 people die from not finding a bone marrow match that could potentially cure a fatal illness. With only 2 percent of the population registered nationally to give marrow, Hillel is seeking to increase registration with a drive Monday.
Monday’s seven-hour drive is the first extended drive for the “Got Swabbed?” bone marrow drive campaign. There have been smaller drives throughout the year.
Holding smaller drives has helped spread the word about the campaign, said Rabbi Danielle Leshaw, executive director of Hillel at Ohio University.
“Part of our strategy is that we are out there, so people can hear about it,” Leshaw said. “We understand it’s a difficult decision to make on the spot, and we want students to be able to think about it.”
Many groups on campus such as Campus Cru and ROTC have also been helping promote the drive, Leshaw said.
The ultimate goal is to get 1,000 new members to join the national bone marrow registry on Monday and 2,000 by the end of the year, said Lauren Goldberg, facilitator for Monday’s drive and the engagement professional for Hillel at OU.
“Anybody who is willing and able should get into the registry,” Goldberg said. “You could give someone the gift of life.”
Another goal is to raise awareness in the community that the opportunity is available, Goldberg added.
“The more people we have, the greater the likelihood of making matches,” she said.
About 70 volunteer swabbers, both veteran and new, will be working the drive throughout the day, Leshaw said.
The opportunity doesn’t happen every day, said Henry Kessler, “Got Swabbed?” bone marrow intern and a sophomore studying art history.
“It doesn’t require much from you, and it isn’t a binding contract,” Kessler said.
Although accepting to donate bone marrow isn’t required, it is recommended that participants only get swabbed if they are sure they’ll consider donating, Kessler said.
“If you match, they’ll call a recipient and say they’ve found a match, and we don’t want you to back out,” Kessler said. “I’ve known people that that’s happened to, and it’s sad to witness.”
The quality of the swabs is more important than the number of swabs, Leshaw said.
“Every life matters, and it’s amazing how difficult it is to find a match,” she said. “When you are that miracle for somebody, it can be one of the most rewarding things that you can ever do.”
ao007510@ohiou.edu
If You Go:
What: “Got Swabbed?” Bone Marrow Drive
When: 10 a.m. Monday
Where: Theatre Lounge in Baker University Center
Admission: Free
