All college students deal with certain, individual burdens.
Aside from the inherent pressures we face in the classroom every semester, we also have to focus on other matters – our family, our friends, our bills, our part-time jobs – basically, our regular lives. We are an on-the-go generation and sometimes, we can’t help but pass by things. The same goes for the student-athletes here at Northeastern, who have to sacrifice their efforts and their time not just in the classroom but on the field or in the arena.
But student-athletes also know they are role models for the community and that they are in a position to give back to it.
On April 12, the Husky football team will have a chance to do just that. That day will see them help the Bone Marrow Institute of America in a five-hour bone marrow drive starting at noon in Solomon Court.
Consider this a call for volunteers, especially for African-American and minority donors, who are desperately needed to diversify and expand the donor registry.
For the squeamish and the needle-phobic, you’ll be glad to know that a bone marrow test entails only a cheek swab. From there, bone marrow types will be recorded for future reference in the hopes that an eventual match can be found between a donor and those in need of a transplant.
This program got its start at Villanova, which began its partnership with the national bone marrow campaign in 1992 under veteran coach Andy Talley. According to an April 18, 2007 release from the school, more than 3,500 people have been put into the registry through the ‘Nova drives leading up to that year’s event.
But to demonstrate how many people are needed to create a big, diverse and life-saving registry, only three people registered from the ‘Nova donor drives have been perfect matches. Two of them were from the school’s football team. In all, the national odds of a perfect marrow match are 1 in 20,000.
“This year, Andy talked to the other CAA coaches [about the program] and wanted to get everyone involved,” said Northeastern administrative assistant Sarah Gigantino, who’s been promoting the drive for the football team. “Usually, our goal would be to get 500 [sign-ups] and then have 100 show up. This year, the goal is to get 1,000 sign-ups between all the schools.”
Besides promotions and flyers, a few of the Husky players have also spread the word as well. Gigantino reports that offensive lineman Yaroslav Mukha and wide receiver Jay Bornstein have already gotten at least 50 students each to sign up from their classes. If a few players from the other schools also running drives along with NU – Villanova, UMass, New Hampshire, Maine, Temple, Harvard, Wagner and Penn – do this as well, then the goal of 1,000 sign-ups isn’t out of reach.
You can help Husky football save lives as well. Students can join the drive by showing up at Solomon Court April 10 between noon and 5 p.m., signing up beforehand at a sign-up booth that will be placed at Marino Center next week or sending an e-mail to huskyfootball@neu.edu.
– Chris Estrada can be reached
at sports@nu-news.com.
