Creighton students showed up for a donor registry drive hosted by Be The Match on the mall on April 14.  

Be the Match is a non-profit organization that facilitates connections for individuals who are diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma and other diseases which necessitate bone marrow donors. A 30-second cheek swab kit opens the door to a world-wide donor registry, allowing the opportunity to potentially help save a life.  

For Creighton sophomore Emma Haney, Be the Match’s mission “means everything.” After finding out her niece was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, Haney took on the role of lead organizer of the event.  

“I never knew what Be the Match was until my niece was diagnosed,” Haney said. “But I instantly knew hosting an event on campus would be the best way to gather support for this cause.” In order to be a donor, one must be in between the ages of 18-40.  

Thousands of patients with blood cancers and other diseases require a blood stem cell transplant to survive, but most patients don’t have a fully matched donor in their family. By joining the Be the Match Registry, your genetic type will be included for every patient in need of a genetically matched donor.  

Haney was joined in support by several family members and friends at the event. “Being able to support Emma and her niece is very heart warming,” friend Macy Matsuda said. “She is like family to me, so supporting her is like supporting my own family.”  

Support from the rest of Creighton community was quick to follow; within the first 37 minutes, over half of the 50 kits were used. Creighton students echoed Haney’s sentiments.  

“I am so proud to support an organization doing such incredible things,” senior Ella Dickson said. “It’s so important to raise awareness for this cause.”  

Haney urges Creighton students to take 30 seconds of their time to join the registry. To learn more about how you can help, visit BeTheMatch.org/GetInvolved.