The University of New Mexico Athletics Department, with help from the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association, held a bone marrow registration drive to get more people on the nationwide registry to donate.

Multiple events were held during Homecoming week to raise much needed awareness for ‘Be The Match,’ a national organization that manages the largest marrow registry in the world.

“For patients with leukemia, lymphoma, other types of blood cancers and diseases, many times they need a bone marrow transplant that can be life-saving,” said Kaitlyn Fishman, a community engagement representative for ‘Be The Match.’ “Our goal is to sign up all these people for the registry so, at some point, they may be able to match a patient in need.”

The cause is close to the hearts of many on the UNM campus. Lobo Men’s Basketball associate head coach Chris Harriman’s son has undergone two bone marrow transplants since being diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of two.

About ‘Be The Match’
For people with life-threatening blood cancers—like leukemia and lymphoma—or other diseases, a cure exists. Be The Match connects patients with their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood 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.