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MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY JOINS DOSOMETHING.ORG, DKMS AND BE THE MATCH TO “GIVE A SPIT” ABOUT CANCER ON OCTOBER 6
MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY JOINS DOSOMETHING.ORG, DKMS AND BE THE MATCH TO “GIVE A SPIT” ABOUT CANCER ON OCTOBER 6
WHAT: DoSomething.org, DKMS and Be The Match® are asking college students to “Give a Spit” about cancer by hosting bone marrow donor registry drives on their campuses to let students know their spit could save a life. To kick off the campaign, Montclair State University's "Colleges Against Cancer" student chapter, with co-sponsor Hawk Crossings Residence Complex, will hold the premiere launch event on October 6, 2011.
WHY: Blood cancer kills more children in the US than any other disease and is the second leading cause of all cancer deaths in the United States. DoSomething.org, Be The Match and DKMS want to get the word out that many blood cancer patients might be cured with a bone marrow transplant if they can find a matching donor. College students are the prime age for marrow donors, yet many are completely unaware it’s as easy as giving a “spit” to join the registry. “Give a Spit” will run nationwide through December 16. To learn more, visit www.dosomething.org/spit or text SPIT to 38383.
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WHO: Montclair State University’s “Colleges Against Cancer” student chapter is running the donor drive in hopes of surpassing their 200 person goal by getting as many students, peers and members of the public as possible to register as new potential donors at the event. Cancer is an issue of particular importance to the MSU chapter, as the Vice President, Jackee Flanagan’s brother, Patrick, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 17. As an active, everyday teenager, his life came to a screeching halt while he battled cancer, went into remission and then fought cancer a second time. After a year and a half of being a cancer patient, Patrick’s doctors found a bone marrow match, and he was able to start the slow process of recovery. Still in remission, Patrick believes if it weren’t for a bone marrow donor he would not be alive today.
WHEN: October 6, 2011; 12:00- 4:00 PM. Open to the public.
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WHERE: Montclair State University, Student Center Ballrooms: 1 Normal Avenue in Montclair, NJ.
ABOUT DOSOMETHING.ORG:
We love teens. They are creative, active, wired…and frustrated that our world is so messed up. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about. Almost every week, we launch a new national campaign. The call to action is always something that has a real impact and doesn’t require money, an adult, or a car. With a goal of 5 million active members by 2015, DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the US for teens and social change. Join us at www.DoSomething.org.
ABOUT DKMS:
The DKMS mission is to save lives by recruiting bone marrow donors for blood cancer patients. More than 27,000 DKMS donors have helped save lives by donating their bone marrow. DKMS is the largest bone marrow donor center in the world with over 2.9 million registered donors. DKMS Americas is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information about DKMS and to learn more about registering as a bone marrow donor, please visit www.getswabbed.org.
ABOUT BE THE MATCH®:
Be The Match helps patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other diseases who need a marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. People can join the Be The Match Registry® – the world’s largest listing of potential marrow donors and donated cord blood units – contribute financially and volunteer. Patients and their families can also turn to Be The Match for support and resources before, during and after transplant. Be The Match is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP), a nonprofit organization that matches patients with donors, educates health care professionals and conducts research so more lives can be saved. For more information, visit BeTheMatch.org or call 1 (800) MARROW-2.
ABOUT COLLEGES AGAINST CANCER:
Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) is a nationwide collaboration of college students, faculty and staff dedicated to eliminating cancer by working to implement the programs and mission of the American Cancer Society. With hundreds of chapters nationwide, CAC is showing the world that young people care and want to make a difference. How many college organizations do you know that involve the entire campus community and surrounding area? CAC does just that through four Strategic Directions: Advocacy, Cancer Education, Relay For Life, and Survivorship. By working to advance the mission of the American Cancer Society, the Strategic Directions are areas in which college students are easily engaged. For more information, visit http://www.acscan.org/collegesagainstcancer.
