Every three to four minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with blood cancer. Thousands of patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and other life-threatening diseases like sickle cell rely on blood stem cell transplants to survive. However, most do not have a fully matched donor in their family, making NMDP (formerly Be the Match and the National Marrow Donor Program) a critical resource for finding potential donors.

Trinity Valley Community College’s Science Division and Cardinal Pre-Health Club are helping to clear the gap by partnering with NMDP to help expand their life-saving donor registry.

“NMDP was presented to Cardinal Pre-Health Club, and it was a no-brainer for us to partner with their organization,” said Sarah Eastep, TVCC sophomore and Vice President of Cardinal Pre-Health Club. “Our main goal in Cardinal Pre-Health Club is to bring awareness to all aspects of the medical field. NMDP is a strong organization that prioritizes patient wellness and ensures the best care for all transplant patients and donors.”

Representatives from NMDP will visit TVCC’s Terrell and Athens campuses to educate students, faculty, staff, and community members about their mission and encourage participation.

“This event showcasing NMDP means a lot to me since my future profession will be in oncology,” Eastep shared. “The NMDP organization represents those who get categorized into a large group of cancer patients. Bringing awareness is a passion we have in Cardinal Pre-Health Club. We know that spreading awareness about blood cancer and other disorders is exactly what this event will do for our Trinity Valley community and the surrounding areas.”

NMDP will be on the TVCC Terrell Campus, in the Campus Library, on Monday, Feb. 10, and Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 8 a.m. to noon, providing information tables and donor kits for individuals to join the registry. The following days, the event will move to the TVCC Athens Campus. NMDP representatives will be available on Wednesday, Feb. 12, on the first floor of the Gibbs Academic Building, and on Thursday, Feb. 13, on the first floor of the Baugh Technology Building.

For some members of the Cardinal Pre-Health Club, this special event isn’t only a way to give back to the community, but a way to honor lost loved ones.

“I decided to be a part of the NMDP event to spread awareness and recruit donors for those struggling with blood cancer,” said Savannah Cantrell, TVCC sophomore and Cardinal Pre-Health Club President. “This event is so important to me because I lost my father to cancer, and I know the struggle of watching someone you love to suffer from this disease. By partnering with NMDP, I can help save someone’s life and bring joy to them and their loved ones. Cancer does not win, and through NMDP, I can give back to those who are fighting with all they have.”

Information tables and donor kits will be available at each location for those interested in joining the registry and making a difference.

To learn more about the event, contact TVCC Science Division Chair at Dr. John Placyk at john.placyk@tvcc.edu