Temple University Athletics
Temple Football Adds Donors to Bone Marrow Registry
4.15.09 | Football
April 15, 2009
Bone Marrow Drive Photo Gallery
PHILADELPHIA-- The Temple football team took a break from spring practice on Wednesday to register approximately 230 potential donors for the National Marrow Donor Program Registry at the Temple University's Howard Gittis Student Center.
The team's bone marrow drive is in its second year. Last spring, Temple set the national record for a collegiate team by registering 630 potential donors.
"We did well, considering the weather dampened the turnout," Temple head coach Al Golden said. "Thank you to Director of Player Development Ryan McNamee who did an incredible job spearheading the event once again, our coaches, support staff, and all of our football student-athletes who generously gave their time and effort to this wonderful cause. Special recognition must go to Villanova coach Andy Talley who has been instrumental in bringing awareness to the marrow donor program and saving lives for the past two decades."
In conjunction with the Temple Bone Marrow Transplant Program, the Temple team helped donors fill out paperwork. Then each had a simple cheek swab test. No blood or needles were involved. Then everyone was treated to free food, door prizes, and conversation with the football players and staff.
Coordinated locally by Coach Talley, this year's drive received commitments from 30 college football programs which will join in the screening process. This year's goal of the "Get in the Game and Save a Life" program is to test 5,000 people. Last year, the spring testing resulted in 2,600 people being entered into the national registry.
Other schools in the region will hold registries this week: Indiana U of PA (April 16); West Chester and Lafayette (April 17); Princeton, Colgate, and Holy Cross (April 18); and Lehigh (April 19).
There are 20 million people worldwide who are registered as potential marrow donors. Still, there are only about 250 matches found each year, making it a 1-in-80,000 chance that a registered donor will be a match.
On any given day, more than 6,000 men, women and children are searching the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry for a life-saving donor. These patients have leukemia, lymphoma, and other life-threatening diseases that can be treated by a bone marrow or cord blood transplant. For many of these patients, a transplant may be the best and only hope of a cure.
Why did you want to participate in Temple Football's Second Annual Bone Marrow Drive?
OL Pat Boyle (Towson, Md.), Sophomore
"It's a chance for everyone to come out and support the cause our team's brought about. I think it's a very good cause. I just wanted to help them personally and do my part in recruiting people to do this also."
LS/DE Jerry Barlow (Moorestown, N.J.), Redshirt Junior
"It's a great opportunity to help people in need. It gives the football team a chance to give back."
Furey Leva (Elkins Park, Pa.), Freshman, Nursing
"I work for the football team as a manager, and I wanted to see what it's all about. I didn't really understand what's going on today, but the opportunity to save a life is a cool thing."
Alicia Kovich (Harrisburg, Pa.), Freshman, Nursing
"My grandmother is suffering from bone marrow cancer. She has to get the transplant, so if I'm a match for someone else, then that's like helping my grandma. That's why I'm here."
Eric Giuliano (Penn Valley, Pa.), Junior, Theater & Communications
"A football player talked me into doing this. He wanted me to try it out. I thought it would be a good experience."
Jamie Hunsberger (Philadelphia, Pa.), Freshman, Broadcast Journalism
"My friends are people on the team, and they asked me to do it. Plus I like helping. In high school I helped with blood drives, so I figured I'd do this."
