SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – On Monday, March 25^th, the Union College men's lacrosse team hosted the Men's Lacrosse Team's Bone Marrow Registry Drive. Several student-athletes participated in the drive, testing their DNA to determine if they were a match to become a donor. This project hits close to home for many in the Union community, and has quickly become a priority of the men's lacrosse team.

“Five years ago, Derek Mayer's (2011) mother's life was saved from a bone marrow donation,” said Head Coach Paul Wehrum. “Derek came to me, and the entire men's lacrosse team and coaching staff enrolled in Gift of Life. This summer Will Mahony, a senior at Union, was contacted because he was a match. He became donor and helped save a mother of three children.”

“Our team registered three years ago, and last spring I was contacted to donate,” said Mahony. “I ended up donating my marrow to a 36 year-old woman with leukemia and saved her life. The donation process is very easy and convenient for the donor, yet lifesaving for the recipient.”

Through a simple process, the participants in Gift of Live were given registration kits to collect their DNA, taking no more than 10-15 minutes. Those who choose to register are not obligated to donate bone marrow simply by partaking in the drive. If one's DNA matches that of someone who is sick and in need of marrow, Gift of Life will reach out to see if there is interest in donating.

“Our men's lacrosse, men's soccer, swimming and diving, and women's hockey teams all participated today,” said Wehrum. “The turn out today between these five teams was overwhelming. We had almost one hundred Union student-athletes register today, which is phenomenal.”

The lacrosse team's drive has affected more than just student-athletes on campus. Jerri Miller, a sophomore at Union, is firmly in support of the local drive. Miller's mother works with Gift of Life, but she also has strong personal ties to the cause.

“I was so happy to help with the drive today,” said Miller. “It is important for students to understand that they can literally save someone's life. In fact, eighty percent of transplants are done through peripheral blood. My grandfather died of leukemia before I was born, so I never had the chance to know him. I am hoping that today we may have helped someone else's family.”

Miller and the men's lacrosse team hope to get the entire campus involved in Gift of Life. Sophomore Kyle McQuiggan is optimistic about their endeavors, and continues to push for more participation and support.

“I was really happy with the turnout,” said McQuiggan. “I look forward to registering more people at our next drive. It will take place on April 12^th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., under the rink in the Garnet Room. Getting people to sign up for the registry is important, but the Gift of Life Foundation does not have enough money to process the DNA kits; therefore, donations to the Foundation are almost equally as important as signing up.”

For more information on Gift of Life, visit  www.giftoflife.org. If you are interesting in taking part in the next Men's Lacrosse Team Bone Marrow Registry Drive, contact Will Mahoney or a member of the men's lacrosse team.

“While winning a game is important, helping save somebody's life is much more important and gratifying,” says Wehrum.