Yale Athletics is again hosting the annual Mandi Schwartz Marrow Donor Registration Drive. Those who join the marrow donor registry may have the opportunity to save the life of someone with a life-threatening illness. Yale’s five previous drives have added more than 3,800 people to the Be The Match Registry® and located at least 23 life-saving donor matches for patients in need of transplants.
Yale Athletics’ goal is to get 1,000 people registered this year, which would be a record. In order to do so, Athletic Director Thomas Beckett is asking Yale students and affiliates to:
- Join the registry on Thursday, Apr. 17 at Commons any time between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (if you are between the ages of 18 and 44)
- Help spread the word about Thursday’s drive by telling people via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and more. Further information is available at http://www.yalebulldogs.com/mandi
To join the registry, you must be between the ages of 18 and 44, meet certain health requirements and be willing to donate to any patient in need. The registration process consists of simple cheek swabs. No blood or needles are involved and it will only take approximately 15 minutes.
This annual drive is named in memory of Mandi Schwartz ’10 (1988-2011), a Yale women’s ice hockey player whose battle with cancer inspired thousands to sign up as potential marrow donors. It is part of the nationwide “Get in the Game. Save a Life.” campaign involving more than 30 other colleges and universities. Yale’s drive, which is part of the Yale Day of Service initiative, is led by the field hockey, football and women’s ice hockey teams. The New Haven County Medical Association is assisting as well.