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Bone marrow drive a success at Penn State York

Savannah Smith, right, and Dana Markel, both freshman at Penn State York, get materials ready for the campus' first bone marrow drive sponsored by the Penn State York THON Committee and the Be the Match Registry. For additional photos of the event, click

People came to the bone marrow drive at Penn State York on Jan. 29 for many different reasons and in the end, 82 people became a part of the Be the Match Registry. Penn State York THON teamed up with Be the Match Registry to sponsor the drive.

Penn State York student and THON member Savannah Smith, of Red Lion, organized the drive and knows personally the importance of bone marrow drives and transplants. Smith’s brother Jed battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia for almost eight years until he died on Jan. 3.

“I wanted to bring awareness about the Be the Match Registry to our community because I have learned its importance first-hand. It is a very easy way to potentially help save someone else's life because the registration process is only four painless cheek swabs, it's free, and it takes less than 15 minutes. I was very happy with the results of our drive," Smith said.

Staff from the Be the Match Registry and Penn State York THON committee members volunteered during the drive and worked at stations.

To view photos of the event, go to http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2211

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