Decreasing the Donor Deficit UNMC, a student-led Legacy project supported by the Office of Community Engagement within Academic Affairs, is hosting a marrow donor registry drive on Wednesday.
The event will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Nebraska Cafe, level three, University Tower.
The event is seeking committed donors between the ages of 18-44 and in good general health to join the registry to help patients fighting blood cancer.
Joining the registry is pain-free. It only takes 10 minutes to fill out the paperwork and swab your cheek.
Only one in 540 registry members go on to donate. Donation is always voluntary, but the drive is hoping to find potential donors who will step up and donate if called.
Surgery is not always required — almost 80 percent of donors give their blood stem cells in a non-surgical procedure that is very similar to donating plasma.
Research shows that cells from younger donors provide the greatest chance for transplant success. More than 95 percent of the time, donors between the ages of 18-44 are the group asked to donate. People between the ages of 45-60 who wish to join the registry can join online with a $100 tax-deductible payment to cover the cost.
For more information, contact Anita Lee.