Freed-Hardeman students swab cheeks to save lives

At a recent blood cancer donor drive, 130 first-year students at Freed-Hardeman University pledged to donate bone marrow if they’re matched to a recipient.

“That was 42% of all those involved, which is a phenomenal participation rate,” said the Henderson, Tenn., school’s nursing chair, Chris White, in a press release. “By adding to the registry, they have given people in need hope.  At some point in the future, if matched, they can give the gift of life.”

Related: Olympic gold medal winner touts bone marrow registry at York

All it took to join the donor database was a cheek swab.

FHU is one of several universities associated with Churches of Christ that have partnered with blood cancer awareness organization Early Young’s Team — young donors offer recipients the best chance at survival.

FHU senior Brayden Martin, a student ambassador for Earl Young’s Team, makes a presentation to new students.

The team was founded by Earl Young, an Abilene Christian University graduate and Olympic gold medal winner who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2011 and received blood stem cells from a donor in Germany.

Since 2019, FHU has helped contribute 1,098 donors to the registry, six of whom were matched to someone in need.

In total, the work of Early Young’s Team has registered more than 22,000 donors with 103 matches.

Read more about the drive at fhu.edu and about blood cancer awareness at earlyoungsteam.org.

Filed under: Abilene Christian University Blood cancer Bone marrow donor Christian colleges and universities Christian higher education Earl Young's Team Early Young Freed-Hardeman University Leukemia National News Partners Top Stories