Every three to four minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with blood cancer. Thousands of patients battling leukemia, lymphoma, and other lifethreatening diseases like sickle cell rely on blood stem cell transplants to survive. However, most do not have a fully matched donor within their family, making NMDP (formerly Be the Match) a critical resource for connecting patients with potential donors.
To help bridge this gap, Trinity Valley Community College’s Science Division and Cardinal Pre-Health Club partnered with NMDP to expand its lifesaving donor registry.
“NMDP was presented to the Cardinal Pre-Health Club, and it was a no-brainer for us to partner with their organization,” said Sarah Eastep, TVCC sophomore and Vice President of the club. “Our main goal is to bring awareness to all aspects of the medical field. NMDP is a strong organization that prioritizes patient wellness and ensures the best care for both transplant patients and donors.”
From Feb. 10 through Feb. 13, NMDP representatives visited TVCC’s Athens and Terrell campuses to educate students, faculty, staff, and community members about their mission and encourage participation as a registered donor.
“We are proud to share that our event with NMDP (Be the Match) on the Athens and Terrell campuses was incredibly successful,” said TVCC Science Division Chair John Placyk. “We were able to register nearly 140 new potential donors—individuals who may one day save the lives of patients battling blood cancer, lymphoma, sickle cell, and other blood disorders. Next year, we hope to surpass 200 registrants.”
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.