As a student-athlete, you already lead through commitment and discipline. By joining the donor registry, you could give someone battling blood cancer or any of over 75 life-threatening diseases a second chance at life. Joining is simple, safe, and entirely voluntary.
Patients in need of a stem cell or marrow transplant rely on finding a genetically compatible donor. Healthy young adults are often the best potential matches. By joining the registry, you increase the chance that someone, somewhere, will find the donor they desperately need.
As student-athletes you already show your leadership, commitment, and discipline in the classroom and on the field. Play Your Part is another way to show that commitment off the field and in your local community.
By participating in a meaningful, lifesaving cause, you show your teammates and fellow student-athletes your support and team unity.
Captains and athlete leaders can strengthen their leadership and communication skills, growing their roles outside of games and practice sessions.
Joining the registry through Play Your Part means that you have the opportunity to save the lives of someone in need.
Joining the registry is easy. Participants complete a quick online registration and then a simple swab of their cheek – similar to brushing the inside of your mouth with a cotton swab.
If you are identified as a potential match for a patient in need, you will be contacted by one of Gift of Life’s trained Donor Services Coordinators who will guide you through every step of the process and answer any questions you may have. Following confirmation that you are the best possible match for the patient, you will be given the opportunity to donate. The most common type, accounting for over 90% of donations, is peripheral blood stem cell collection, and is similar to donating plasma.
We know this is a lot of information all at once, but we’re here to support you every step of the way. Here you’ll find answers to most frequently asked questions about participation, your involvement, and hosting drives. Don’t see your question? Feel free to ask us below!
Ask usNo. The initial swab is painless and takes seconds. If you're matched and become a donor, the collection process is similar to donating plasma. It is a straightforward procedure performed by medical professionals who prioritize your comfort and safety.
Not at all. Being on the registry requires nothing from you until you're matched. If that happens, the donation process won't impact your ability to train or compete.
The swab takes seconds. If you're matched with a patient, the full donation process typically occurs over a few weeks, with medical staff working around your schedule whenever possible.
Your information enters our registry and stays there. You'll only hear from us if you're a potential match for a patient. Until then, you're simply part of a network of people who could save a life.
Yes. You can remove yourself from the registry at any time. If you are identified as a potential match, it is up to you to decide if you want to donate. Once that decision is made, your commitment is incredibly important: someone’s life depends on it. While you do have the right to withdraw at any time, once the recipient undergoes the transplant conditioning regimen, preparing their body to receive the transplant, they will not survive without your donation.
Joining the registry takes just a few minutes. You provide basic information and complete a cheek swab. That’s it!
You could be the reason someone gets a second chance at life!
Small actions can go a long way, especially in the health field. There are thousands of diseases in the world today and doctors aren’t the only people who can help cure them.
With smaller contributions like donating blood or advocating for those suffering a certain illness, anyone can have a direct influence on whether or not a person lives. One of Florida Atlantic University’s students, Adam LeBlanc, decided to do his part and donate stem cells with the help of the Gift of Life Marrow registry.
The Gift of Life Marrow registry is an organization local to Boca Raton that focuses on blood cancer and the treatment of cellular therapy to cure it. Blood cancer consists of three different types: Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma. All of these have a direct and even terminal impact on the human body and its systems.
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Gift of Life’s mission is to cure blood cancer through cellular therapy.
At Gift of Life, we believe that every person battling blood cancer deserves a second chance at life – and we are determined to make it happen. We are singularly passionate about engaging the public to help us get everyone involved in curing blood cancer, whether as a donor, a volunteer, or a financial supporter. It all begins with one remarkable person, one life-changing swab and one huge win – finding a match and a cure.
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