Marcy Dull's battles are no longer with her usual field hockey opponents - they reach far beyond the turf.
Last year, her brother, Derrick, was set to marry the love of his life, Mindy Culp.
Suddenly, everything changed.
He was diagnosed with acute leukemia in January 2008, and at the age of 22, was engulfed in the fight of his life.
Culp, now Dull, took action immediately, and set up a bone marrow drive at a Lewisburg, Pa., church close to their home.
The drive turned in a donor that was not a perfect match for Derrick, and he lost his fight in December.
After losing her brother, Dull was inspired to follow in her sister-in-law's footsteps.
Losing him to cancer really makes me want to get involved in the fight
Dull said. People don't realize that (attending a marrow drive) isn't an inconvenience at all.
You have the potential to save someone's life.
According to the National Marrow Donor Program some 6 000 people search the registry every week to find a match - one that could potentially save their lives.
A bone marrow match for a leukemia patient highly increases the chance of survival for a patient
Dull said. She wanted to develop a way to make it easier for people to find a match.
There are millions of registered donors on the National Marrow Donor Program's Web site
but perfect matches are scarce.
All of Dull's field hockey teammates
volleyball players Ellen Herman
Sarah Petrulis and Jane Sytsma
along with football players Boo Jackson and Patrick Tafua have lent a hand in organizing a marrow drive from 2 to 8 p.m. today in the Baker Ballroom.
The Student Athlete Advisory Committee has also been a strong supporter of the group's efforts
Dull said.
Dull chose Baker Center for the marrow drive because of its location and daily traffic
which she hopes will get more people to take a few minutes and get swabbed.
I had the desire to put it together, Dull said. Then I asked teammates first and they were very excited.
The support from them was outstanding
and they have become just as involved in the fight as I am. Along with the volleyball and the football players
