Registration to become a bone marrow donor this Monday

Brittany Nader

Kent State students can register to be bone marrow donors on the second floor of the Student Center between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday.

By joining the Be The Match registry, students will have the opportunity to provide a life-saving donation to patients suffering from cancer or other diseases, according to a Kent State press release.

To be added to the registry, students will receive a DNA swab from their cheek. A representative from Be The Match will be available to answer any questions, and the process should take no longer than 10 minutes.

Once registered, Be The Match will check to see if the donor is a genetic match to someone in need of healthy bone marrow.

According to the press release, there is only a 1 percent chance that those registered will actually donate bone marrow.

If chosen, the donor’s DNA will be re-tested. If it is still a match, he or she will then be given anesthesia, and the marrow will be taken from the pelvic bone.

Students who would like to donate early can email [email protected]. to arrange a meeting. For more information, students can visit www.bethematch.org or call 1-800-MARROW-2.

Contact Brittany Nader at [email protected].