DePauw, Wabash compete to register bone marrow donors
By: Allison Marino
Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: News
Delta Tau Delta fraternity hasn't participated in fall campus-wide events in recent years. But this Wednesday, the fraternity is co-hosting a philanthropic event.
Delt and Alpha Chi Omega sorority are encouraging people to register as bone marrow donors.
Delt created the event to benefit sophomore organizer Mitch Turnbow's friend's aunt, who has cancer.
"My friend's aunt had a cancer that needed bone marrow. I wanted to help out," he said. "My friend goes to IU, so I figured we could spread across the state looking for a match."
Sophomore Katie Logan, a member of Alpha Chi, said her best friend from home is also the friend of Turnbow's whose aunt needs bone marrow. Logan wanted to help Delt organize the event. Needing volunteers, she turned to her chapter for support.
The event, which will be held in the Union Building's Fishbowl, is a competition with Wabash College. A mutual friend of Turnbow and Logan who attends Wabash helped organize it there.
"It was Alpha Chi's and Delt's idea to make it a competition because it was during Monon, and a lot of football players are Delts," Logan said.
Because it the cause is so close to Turnbow and Logan, they ask that only people who are seriously dedicated to donating bone marrow register. Many students are hesitant to make such a serious commitment.
"No I'm not doing it," said sophomore Alan Lee. "If I ever do it, I would prefer to be under full anesthesia."
To donate bone marrow, one either has liquid marrow withdrawn from one's spine while under anesthesia, or a needle is injected into one arm with the marrow being filtered out and the blood put back into the other arm.
While no marrow will actually be donated Wednesday, the goal is to get 100 people to register to donate bone marrow.
"The ultimate goal is to raise awareness that people are in need," Turnbow said. "The national statistic says 60 percent of people who need marrow don't have a registered match so if we get a match, particularly for our friend's aunt, that is the ultimate goal."
Delt and Alpha Chi Omega sorority are encouraging people to register as bone marrow donors.
Delt created the event to benefit sophomore organizer Mitch Turnbow's friend's aunt, who has cancer.
"My friend's aunt had a cancer that needed bone marrow. I wanted to help out," he said. "My friend goes to IU, so I figured we could spread across the state looking for a match."
Sophomore Katie Logan, a member of Alpha Chi, said her best friend from home is also the friend of Turnbow's whose aunt needs bone marrow. Logan wanted to help Delt organize the event. Needing volunteers, she turned to her chapter for support.
The event, which will be held in the Union Building's Fishbowl, is a competition with Wabash College. A mutual friend of Turnbow and Logan who attends Wabash helped organize it there.
"It was Alpha Chi's and Delt's idea to make it a competition because it was during Monon, and a lot of football players are Delts," Logan said.
Because it the cause is so close to Turnbow and Logan, they ask that only people who are seriously dedicated to donating bone marrow register. Many students are hesitant to make such a serious commitment.
"No I'm not doing it," said sophomore Alan Lee. "If I ever do it, I would prefer to be under full anesthesia."
To donate bone marrow, one either has liquid marrow withdrawn from one's spine while under anesthesia, or a needle is injected into one arm with the marrow being filtered out and the blood put back into the other arm.
While no marrow will actually be donated Wednesday, the goal is to get 100 people to register to donate bone marrow.
"The ultimate goal is to raise awareness that people are in need," Turnbow said. "The national statistic says 60 percent of people who need marrow don't have a registered match so if we get a match, particularly for our friend's aunt, that is the ultimate goal."
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Jennifer St. Peter
posted 11/10/09 @ 10:49 AM EST
The surgical procedure to remove marrow is only used in about 20% of donations and the marrow is removed from the back of the hip bone, not the spine. (Continued…)
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