Phi Lambda Sigma makes the match with 60 sign-ups
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Sixty people signed up to “Be the Match” during on-campus presentations hosted March 25 by the Beta Nu chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma.
Members of VCU School of Pharmacy’s national leadership society encouraged students to take a few minutes and sign up for the international bone marrow transplantation registry. Two hourlong sessions featured representatives from VCU’s Be the Match On Campus organization as well as Dan Gariepy, a Richmond-area community engagement representative for Be the Match.
Registering for the program requires a simple cell sample, usually gathered by swabbing the inside of the cheek. If specific protein markers (human leukocyte antigens, or HLA) in the potential donor match the HLA markers in patients who need a marrow transplant, the donor is contacted to see whether transplantation is a real possibility.
A good match can be lifesaving for patients with blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia.
In addition to an educational overview and a walkthrough of the saliva collection process, third-year Pharm.D. student Abbey Ellis related her own story of joining the registry and being contacted as a potential match. As a result, she was able to donate stem cells to a man in Germany. The recipient died later that year, but Ellis was still glad she could give the family hope.
PLS president Ben Iredell noted that in addition to registering people and raising awareness for Be the Match, the society donated the $100 it made during a same-day bake sale.
Be the Match is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program. Nearly 12.5 million people are registered. But there still are patients who cannot find a match, hence the ongoing need for volunteers. Registering — if you haven’t already — costs nothing and is easy as going online and having the kit sent to your home.
Next up: The VCU chapter of Be the Match on Campus is sponsoring an “Eat, Drink and Be Marrow” fundraising event 2-5 p.m. April 25 at Social 52, 2619 W. Main St. $10 includes a T-shirt, food and drink specials and chance to win prizes. Sign up here.
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