Northwestern College to Host 10/29 Bone Marrow Donor Drive at Chicago Campus
[Chicago-Jefferson Park, IL] In connection with Medical Assisting Week, Northwestern College will be hosting a Bone Marrow Donor Registry Drive at its Chicago-Jefferson Park Campus in the Academic Building at 4811 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Room 007 on Wednesday, October 29 from 9:45am to 10:30am, and then again later that day from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Students, faculty, and staff as well as members of the public are invited to participate in this community service event. Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 44.
As part of the donor drive, participants will complete a bone marrow donor consent form providing pertinent information about themselves, and will then have a quick swab taken of the inside of their cheek. The time needed to do both of these tasks is a matter of minutes. The swabs will immediately be sent in for testing and possible matches with recipients in need of bone marrow transplants.
Northwestern College has teamed up with The ICLA Da Silva Foundation, www.icla.org and Be The Match, BeTheMatch.org in hopes of identifying potential bone marrow donors to help thousands with blood cancers like leukemia or other diseases such as sickle cell anemia, diseases where a bone marrow transplant is likely a patient’s only hope for life. Those with diverse ancestry are especially in need and encouraged to participate, for they would most likely match someone who shares their same heritage.
It is Northwestern College’s hope that by hosting the event it will increase and diversify the bone marrow donor registry, as well as raise awareness about the urgent need for bone marrow donors.
Members of the public who are interested in participating can come to the Chicago Campus and check in at the Security Desk on the main level. They will then be escorted to Room 007 to participate. For more information on Northwestern College’s Bone Marrow Donor Registry Drive, please contact David Mahler at [email protected] or 847-845-2427.
About Northwestern College:
Northwestern College (NC) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, www.ncahlc.org. The college offers focused career-oriented associate degree and certificate programs with flexible schedules and a supportive faculty. Day, evening, weekend, online classes and online programs are available, with campuses in Chicago and Oak Lawn as well as Online. Get more information by calling toll-free (888) 205-2283.
Student Danelia Marquez swabs her cheek last year at Northwestern College’s 2013 Bone Marrow Donor Drive. This year’s Drive will take place at the Chicago Campus on 10/29.