FASE mentors will be working at “Be the Match” stations located at various campus locations, such as the Indiana Memorial Union, IU Auditorium during RAAS Royalty and Eigenmann Residence Center, now through Feb. 20.
During the event, students will fill out forms about their health information and then volunteers will collect a sample from the inside of their cheek in a painless process, Natalie Archer, the community service chair for FASE Advisory Board, said.
“A goal for our drive is to get as many people registered as possible over the course of the month of February,” she said. “Be the Match has the power to have an impact on people in the Bloomington community as well as the nation as a whole.”
Archer said there are thousands of people diagnosed with blood cancers, and “Be the Match” works to find them a donor who could change their lives. She said not everyone who registers to donate will be a match or be asked to donate, so she would encourage students to register.
“An inspiration for the drives is Justin, a 23-year-old man who is currently looking for a match,” she said. “It would be great if someone who registered during one of our drives could be a match for Justin.”
Hanah Casey, a FASE volunteer, said she knows what it is like to be in a difficult medical situation and how stressful it can be. Because of that, she wanted to do whatever she could do to help.
“FASE means providing service to the students of IU and the Bloomington community by offering a means to improve leadership and communication skills to benefit students’ future careers.” FASE Marketing Liasion Libby Gress said.
Gress joined FASE her freshman year and said the organization wants to help students enjoy their time at college while still remaining on track to graduate on time.
“FASE hosts a number of educational, social, philanthropic and professional events for students throughout the school year,” Gress said. “Our goal is to help students succeed academically, socially and develop skills along the way.”
