2024 Grizzly Football NMDP registration drive:
When: April 25, 2024 – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: University Center / The Oval
University of Montana
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, Mont. 59812
The Grizzlies will hold their fourth “Get in the Game” registration drive in the University Center and around the Oval on Thursday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Since joining the program in 2019, Montana has already helped register over 800 members of the UM campus community soaring past the team’s goal of 70 new signups each year. Out of those registrants, Montana has had five donors selected to help save a life.
During the 2024 registration drive time the team will don their uniforms and interact with fellow UM students and campus community members, encouraging them to Get in the Game and join the NMDP donor registry to potentially become a lifesaving donor.
Started by former Villanova Head Football Coach Andy Talley and endorsed by the American Football Coaches Association, the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation’s Get in the Game program works with hundreds of football and sports teams at colleges and universities across the nation each year to recruit new registry members.
“Grizzly football is proud to support Coach Talley and his goal of using the game of football as a vehicle to help save lives. This event will be a small way for our student-athletes to give back to the community at large and hopefully make a positive impact on someone’s life,” said head coach Bobby Hauck.
“I hope that eventually we can get every team in our department signed up to be part of this, and for that matter, every student on our campus.”
Hauck was honored for Montana’s involvement in the program last month at the prestigious Maxwell Football Club National Awards Gala with the “Get in the Game Impact Award.”
The Get in the Game program raises awareness of the global need for marrow donors and invites students, faculty, staff, and the community to join the national donor registry. To sign up as a committed registry member, people need to meet age and health guidelines and be willing to donate to any patient in need.
Registration is quick and easy and involves completing a health history survey and giving a swab of cheek cells. Those of diverse racial or ethnic heritage are especially needed. Donors and patients who share the same ancestry are most likely to match.
About the NMDP
For people with life-threatening blood cancers – like leukemia and lymphoma – or other diseases, a cure exists. NMDP connects patients with their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. People can contribute to the cure as a member of the NMDP Registry, financial contributor or volunteer. NMDP provides patients and their families one-on-one support, education, and guidance before, during and after transplant.
NMDP is a nonprofit organization that matches patients with donors, educates health care professionals and conducts research so more lives can be saved. To learn more about the cure, visit nmdp.org or call 1 (800) MARROW-2. For more information on the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation visit talleybonemarrow.org.