Carolina Panthers linebacker and national ambassador for Project Life Movement, Luke Kuechly, visited campus recently to encourage UNC Charlotte students to help save lives by joining a stem cell/bone marrow registry.
“The process of registering is incredibly easy, and at the end of the day, it could save someone’s life,” said Kuechly during his campus visit. “Having met previous recipients and their donors in the past, it really shows the powerful connection that someone can have on another person's life.”
Project Life Movement and Gift of Life are both organizations that help save the lives of patients diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell disease and other blood-related cancers.
Project Life Movement is a national collegiate program that works to register volunteers for stem cell and bone marrow donation with campus-wide drives. The goal of these drives is to educate students on the need for volunteer donors. To register, students access an app and complete a simple cheek swab.
Junior biology and Spanish major Haley Wheeler is promoting registry drives on campus during February as part of the Gift of Life ambassador program.
“Being able to partner with Project Life Movement has been a great experience,” said Wheeler. “Leaving the drive with 218 potential new donor registrations was incredible, and we are hoping for even more in the future.”
Registry drives are scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Feb. 20 and 28, at the Popp Martin Student Union. Email Ann Henegar at ann@projectlifemovement.org for more information.
Photos, top, UNC Charlotte students participate in a bone marrow registry drive; inset, Luke Kuechly with Haley Wheeler.