Catawba College will host a "Be the Match National Bone Marrow Registry" event on Thursday, April 7, in the Kirkland Gym Lobby of the Abernethy Physical Education Center on campus. The event, which runs from 11am-2pm and then again from 4-7pm on April 7th, is held in honor of 1996 Catawba alumnus Ian Brinkley, an active U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot who has recently been diagnosed with (AML).
Ian played both football and lacrosse while studying at Catawba and has served six tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the coming months, he will need a bone marrow transplant. Catawba Men's Lacrosse Coach Peter Bourque and his wife, Ann, are spearheading the "Be the Match" event as a way to support Ian and all blood cancer patients.
"Through this registration drive we just might be able to FIND HIS MATCH for the transplant and save his life," Ann Bourque, a certified "Be The Match" ambassador for the event, shared.
During the Catawba "Be the Match" event, people from the entire community can participate by signing up for the registry and allowing a DNA cheek swab to be taken. There is no cost for individual ages 18-44 and this event targets people in this age group, the ideal age range for potential donors. Anyone age 45 and older can sign up to be on the registry, but their registration will need to be completed online and they will pay a $100 fee to participate. Door prizes and giveaways will be available at the Catawba event for all participants.
As another way for Catawba to show its support for Ian, a banner recognizing him and the "Be the Match National Bone Marrow Registry" will be displayed in the College stadium for the remainder of the spring lacrosse season.
