Ithaca College

While playing the game of football has never saved someone's life, the efforts of Ithaca College's football student-athletes have helped save several people's lives through a coordinated project with the National Bone Marrow Donor Program.

For the ninth straight year, head football coach Dan Swanstrom, his coaching staff, and the football players are sponsoring a "Be the Match" bone marrow registry drive. The Ithaca football effort is conducted in coordination with the National Bone Marrow Donor Program's "Be The Match" initiative.

The drive will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 18 in Emerson Suites in the Campus Center. 

In just a few short minutes, donors can be registered on the national bone marrow donor registry. In those short minutes you might be able to help save a life. A cheek swab is taken for the test without using any needles or drawing blood. 

Last year, approximately 270 attendees registered for the national bone marrow donor registry, which made it one of the largest registration drives in the area according to a representative of the organization.

Participants fill out some preliminary information, and a cheek swab is taken for the test without using any needles or drawing blood. 

For more information on the National Bone Marrow Donor Program go to www.bethematch.org.