St. Bonaventure students, staff, and members of the local community all have the power to make a meaningful difference. On Saturday, Jan. 24, Colt 45 Strong Inc. invites you to take a few minutes to help patients facing serious blood cancers and blood disorders by joining the National Marrow Donor Program bone marrow registry. One simple choice can offer someone hope when they need it most.

St. Bonaventure Athletics will host two registry events this Saturday:

• 10:00 a.m. during the Bonnies swim meet vs. Colgate in the Reilly Center Pool lobby (student entrance to the building)
• 1:00 p.m. during the women's basketball game vs. La Salle in the Hall of Fame room. Please note that the start time of Saturday's women's basketball game has moved up two hours from an originally announced time of 3 p.m.

Stopping by is easy, and fans choosing to complete a cheek swab and join the registry will also be entered into a drawing for Buffalo Sabres tickets as a thank you for supporting this important cause.

Joining the registry is quick, easy, and non-invasive. Registration takes only a few minutes and includes a simple cheek swab and a short questionnaire. There are no needles, no blood draw, and no commitment to donate at the time of registration.

Individuals ages 18-to-35 are encouraged to register. Young donors are especially needed, and people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds play a vital role in building a strong and diverse registry. During registration, only a few basic health questions are asked, then a cheek swab will be done. 

Patients with blood cancers and blood disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell disease, and aplastic anemia often rely on a blood stem cell transplant for survival. Many patients do not have a matching family donor and must depend on the generosity of others in the registry. Your participation could change someone's life.