49ers encouraged ‘to swab to save lives’

During February, UNC Charlotte students will have the opportunity to save lives. Junior Haley Wheeler is organizing stem cell/bone marrow registry drives on Feb. 20 and 28.

A biology and Spanish major, Wheeler is a campus ambassador with Gift of Life marrow registry. Charlotte-based Project Life Movement and Gift of Life have joined forces to help save patients who have been diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell disease and other blood-related cancers.

The goal of these February events is to educate students on the need for volunteer donors. The process is simple; students register through an app on their phones and provide a simple cheek swab. It’s that easy to join the registry and be in a position to save a life for a patient in need, said Wheeler.

The Feb. 20 and 28 drives will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Popp Martin Student Union.

According to Wheeler, each year thousands of patients need stem cell and bone marrow transplants from volunteer donors, and less than half will find a matching donor.

Gift of Life and Project Life Movement are working to change those odds. The organizations work with student leaders like Wheeler to host drives and recruit college students to join the registry.

Focusing on college campuses is a smart move, said Wheeler, adding that young, healthy and diverse people are needed to build the registry.

Volunteers can register at 18 (the youngest age possible) and remain on the registry for years.