NEW HAVEN, Conn. – For the fifth straight year, the Southern Connecticut State University athletic department will host a bone marrow donor registration event as part of the National Marrow Donor Program's 'Be The Match' initiative. This effort, which will be guided by the Owls' football program, will take place on Tuesday, April 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Michael J. Adanti Student Center. Through the "Get in the Game, Save A Life" program, university faculty, staff and students between the ages of 18-60 can be a part of the national movement. Registration is simple, and involves completing a health history form and giving a swab of cheek cells. Donors with diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds are especially critical.
 
The program was spearheaded by Owls' alum Andy Talley, currently the head coach at Villanova University, more than 15 years ago. He has recruited thousands of members to the registry by encouraging his football team and their friends to join – last year alone more than 8,000 people joined through a "Get in the Game. Save A Life" donor drive. Talley's aim is to increase the likelihood that all patients receive the life-saving transplant they need.
 
The Owls have had more than 600 new registrants participate in the program over the last four years.
 
Be The Match is a movement that engages a growing community of people inspired to help patients who need a marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), a leader in the field of marrow and cord blood transplantation, created Be The Match to provide opportunities for the public to become involved in saving the lives of people with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases. Volunteers can join the Be The Match Registry – the world's largest and most diverse listing of potential adult marrow donors and donated cord blood units – as well as contribute financially to Be The Match Foundation or give their time. Be The Match Foundation supports the NMDP by raising funds to grow the Be The Match Registry, help patients with transplant costs and advance medical research. Since operations began in 1987, the NMDP has provided more than 38,000 transplants to help give patients a second chance at life. For more information, visit BeTheMatch.org or call 1 (800) MARROW-2.