ITHACA, N.Y. – Over the next two weeks, the Cornell Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Red Key Society will be working with Be The Match, formerly known as the National Bone Marrow Registry, to raise money and enroll potential donors at both Cornell Homecoming, as well as the Hockey Seat Selection Line.

What: Join the Be The Match marrow registry
Where: Bartels Hall - Between Lynah Rink and Newman Arena
When: Friday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Sponsored By: Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Red Key Society

The Cornell athletic community first got involved with Be The Match when head women's basketball coach Dayna Smith's niece Jaime was diagnosed with leukemia in the spring and was in need of a bone marrow transplant. Jaime's brother, Josh Vick '12, is a member of both the Big Red football and track and field teams.

While Jaime recently received her bone marrow transplant, countless others across the country are still in need of this lifesaving gift. As a result, SAAC and Red Key Society will host a Be The Match cheek swab drive for both the Ithaca and Cornell communities on October 1 in conjunction with the Hockey Seat Selection Line at Lynah Rink.

Community members can be screened for Be The Match beginning at 4 p.m., before the seat selection begins at 7 p.m. The donation center will located at Bartels Hall in the hallway that separates Lynah Rink from Newman Arena.

In addition to the cheek swab, SAAC and Red Key Society are soliciting donations for Be The Match, which estimates that it costs the organization approximately $100 to process each cheek swab. To offset some of that cost, the Cornell Hockey Association and the Cornell Football Association have each committed a $2,000 gift.

At Homecoming, the groups will be selling tickets for a 50/50 raffle, as well as raffling off some amazing prizes, with the proceeds going to Be The Match. The groups will have a tent set up in the Crescent parking lot near the entrance to Schoellkopf Field and members of SAAC and Red Key Society will be selling tickets in both the tailgate areas as well as in the Crescent stands up until halftime. Auction items include: $50 Gift Certificate to Joe's Restaurant; $20 Gift Certificate to Jack's Grill; (3) $50 Gift Certificate towards services of Cayuga Lake Cruises and Corks & More; $50 Gift Certificate towards services of Cayuga Lake Cruises; a 2010-11 signed Cornell men's ice hockey jersey; a signed 2011 Cornell men's lacrosse helmet; (2) autograph posters of Max Siebald.

“I am amazed and extremely thankful when I think of how many people have gotten involved in this cause because of my niece,” said Smith. “To have so many people that I work with help to raise awareness about something so close to my family is just remarkable and it really makes me appreciate the Cornell and Ithaca community even more than I did before.”