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The Daily OrangeThe Gift of Life bone marrow donor drive to swab DNA of at least 1,000 participants
By Naomi Ratner
Posted: 11/1/07, 12:52 AM EST Section: News
Students can save a life in seven minutes today with The Gift of Life Bone Marrow donor drive for patients in need of bone marrow, blood or stem cells.
Participating students complete a simple swabbing process analyzed by the National Bone Marrow Registry with the assistance of the Gift of Life organization. The registry information is held on file until the donor's tissue matches a patient with leukemia or a blood-related disease in need of a transplant. If an identical match is not found by the donor's 61st birthday, the information is discarded.
The campaign is chaired by sophomore Kappa Kappa Gamma sister Helene Kahn, whose younger brother is a leukemia survivor.
"It is important to know that this is a big commitment, but one that could save a life," said Kahn, the social action chair on the student board at the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life.
The Gift of Life was established as a Jewish organization in 1991 as a donor-recruitment organization to help save the life of Jay Feinberg, a Jewish leukemia patient who is now the organization's executive director.
The organization is run in Syracuse by Hillel, in cooperation with Student Association, Residence Hall Association and eight contributing greek organizations.
"Just for the effort being made in preparation and organization, they should be commended - it's unbelievable," said Shayne Pilpel, recruitment coordinator at Gift of Life headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla.
Sophomore Lizzie Prince, the committee chair of Delta Delta Delta, is a major contributor to the cause.
"It's really important to me that the greek community is involved with charitable events, like Gift of Life, and it means a lot to me that my sorority is participating and joining me in being part of such a good cause," she said.
Participating students complete a simple swabbing process analyzed by the National Bone Marrow Registry with the assistance of the Gift of Life organization. The registry information is held on file until the donor's tissue matches a patient with leukemia or a blood-related disease in need of a transplant. If an identical match is not found by the donor's 61st birthday, the information is discarded.
The campaign is chaired by sophomore Kappa Kappa Gamma sister Helene Kahn, whose younger brother is a leukemia survivor.
"It is important to know that this is a big commitment, but one that could save a life," said Kahn, the social action chair on the student board at the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life.
The Gift of Life was established as a Jewish organization in 1991 as a donor-recruitment organization to help save the life of Jay Feinberg, a Jewish leukemia patient who is now the organization's executive director.
The organization is run in Syracuse by Hillel, in cooperation with Student Association, Residence Hall Association and eight contributing greek organizations.
"Just for the effort being made in preparation and organization, they should be commended - it's unbelievable," said Shayne Pilpel, recruitment coordinator at Gift of Life headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla.
Sophomore Lizzie Prince, the committee chair of Delta Delta Delta, is a major contributor to the cause.
"It's really important to me that the greek community is involved with charitable events, like Gift of Life, and it means a lot to me that my sorority is participating and joining me in being part of such a good cause," she said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Gail
posted 11/01/07 @ 9:09 AM EST
My son is in his second yr at S.U. and he is particapating in this! I think this a great way to get kids involved in the community and to save a life!
Thousands if not millions of people die each year because there is no match (we know someone personally)
so if this can help just one!!. (Continued…)
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