The Student Nurses Association of Central Connecticut State University partnered with the Maternal Health Advocacy Club to host a Gift for Life donor recruitment drive on Nov. 28 in CCSU’s Student Center.

Gift of Life is an organization that helps patients cure blood cancer. For some, chemotherapy and radiation are not enough and a bone marrow transplant may be needed to save the patient’s life.

The volunteers helped swab the inside of students’ cheeks to have them join the National Bone Marrow registry. The process takes around five minutes.

“It may take a few minutes of your day, but you could save a life,” Molly Marteka, student nurse and SNA president said.

The swabs are then sent to a laboratory and tested to determine the donor’s human leukocyte antigen profile and the immune system factors to help match the donors with the recipients.

Then, the potential matches information is entered into a worldwide registry. When they find a person in need who matches the donor, then they are contacted.

Miriam Lopez-Cruz, SNA Vice President and Student Government Association Senator said she hopes this event raises awareness about how people can help save someone with bone cancer’s life.

“Many people are unaware that they can donate their bone marrow,” Lopez-Cruz said. “Many people have bone cancer in the U.S. and need marrow. There are many people who can help”.

For individuals who want to learn more about Gift of Life and the National Bone Marrow registry, go to https://www.giftoflife.org/