LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine University men's basketball team, in conjunction with the National Marrow Donor Program, will host a "Get in the Game" blood stem cell donor drive in the campus' quad on Thursday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET.
 
According to the NMDP, the "Get in the Game" program uses the power and influence of college athletics to motivate and recruit students to join the NMDP registry to become potential blood stem cell donors. Teams such as the Knights participate by hosting on-campus recruitment events and assisting other students with registering.
 
A blood stem cell transplant can cure or treat more than 75 diseases, including blood cancers and other blood disorders like sickle cell, the NMDP says. The organization connects thousands of patients each year with matching donors for the chance at a lifesaving transplant.
 
The inspiration for the connection between the NMDP and the Knights was Isaiah White, a 9-year-old who lives with Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). Isaiah, who is expected to be in attendance at the event, "signed" with the Knights with the help of Team IMPACT this past June.
 
"We are really excited to collaborate with the NMDP and Isaiah's family," said Knights head coach Doug Davenport. "Service to others in need is a staple of both our university's and our program's philosophy. I hope the effort we put into this event has a positive impact far beyond our community."
 
Also scheduled to be in attendance is Seth Walsh, a five-time leukemia survivor and previous Team IMPACT connection with the Knights from 2022 through 2025. Walsh and his family currently operate Seth's Squad, an organization dedicated to supporting pediatric cancer patients and their families.
 
For more information on the NMDP, please visit nmdp.org. Media inquiries for the NMDP may sent to Tonya Davis at tdavis2@nmdp.org.