The William & Mary football team will continue its tradition of supporting “Be The Match” by hosting a bone marrow drive at the Sadler Center on Thursday, April 11 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
In addition to registering themselves, members of the team will encourage others in the W&M community to do the same by being added to the bone marrow donor registry.
Be The Match manages the largest and most diverse bone marrow donor registry in the world, which includes more than 20 million volunteers who stand ready to be a live-saving bone-marrow donor. Marrow transplants can provide a cure for more than 70 different diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia.
This year’s effort marks the sixth consecutive year in which the Tribe Football team has hosted a “Be The Match” bone marrow drive. During the last two years, the team has registered nearly 300 people, including a program-record 170 last year.
W&M Head Football Coach Mike London has been a strong advocate for the cause for many years, as he was a bone marrow donor for his daughter, Ticynn. Their inspirational story is available here.
Throughout the years as a head coach, London has helped register eight people who have been identified as donor matches.
Among the Tribe football players who have been added to the registry, two – offensive lineman Mark Williamson and former kicker John Carpenter – have been selected as “matches” and donated bone marrow. A feature story about Williamson is available here, while a feature on Carpenter is available here. Additionally, a video feature about the Tribe’s commitment to support Be The Match is available here.
