Each year, more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with leukemia or other life threatening diseases. For many, a marrow or blood stem cell transplant is the only cure.

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) matches a potential donor with a patient who needs a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. The students and faculty/staff at Penn State have a unique opportunity on Wednesday, July 30 to become part of the NMDP.

On this day, at the Student Red Cross Club sponsored blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Heritage Hall of the HUB, all persons have the option, free of charge, to become registered into the national bone marrow registry.

Donors will have three options. 1. Donate blood and enter the National Marrow Donor Program.

One extra tube of blood is taken at the end of the donation. No extra needle stick is needed. 2. Enter the Registry only. Just a simple blood test. One tube of blood is drawn. 3. Donate blood but not enter the Registry.

The American Red Cross and all other blood collection facilities nationwide have recently issued an emergency appeal for all blood donors. Blood inventories have dropped drastically this summer.

Hospitals in our region are rescheduling elective surgeries so blood will be available for emergency situations.

Because of the emergency appeal, donors are strongly encouraged to choose the first option above.

More information about the Registry can be found at www.marrow.org. Or call the Centre Communities Chapter at 237-2713. Together, we can save a life.