Dozens of students in Woodbridge gave up their Saturday to give back by raising money and awareness for the bone marrow registry called Be the Match.
“Even though there’s over ten million people on the registry already there’s still cancer patients that do not have matches and it’s important that we understand that we’re able to help," Amity High School Senior Lillian Zhang said.
“Many of these patients are receiving chemo and radiations to kind of kill off a lot of the cells in their bodies and these donations are actually used to help take over their bodies and new immune systems," said Jon DeCasanova of Be the Match.
Zhang founded the Amity High School “Give a Spit Club,” two years ago.
“When you donate marrow the first step is to swab and so you have to donate saliva cells, and so that’s why it’s Give a Spit," Zhang explained.
Members of the club started planning Saturday's 5K run and walk in September. Nearly 100 people registered and more than $3,800 was raised by the end of the race.
“Very proud of these students. I mean you can just see their drive and motivation," said Amity High School Advisor Deborah Day.
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Before the race, some runners even added their own names to the marrow donor registry.
“It’s just a simple cheek swab on site usually and a little bit of paperwork to get into the registry," DeCasanova demonstrated.
Cynthia Campos of Orange ran in honor of her friend’s daughter Briana.
“She’s been so incredibly brave and inspiring," said Campos.
The New Jersey 12-year-old is in her second battle with leukemia. Campos hoped someone the race would wind up being the girls match.
She and her family have had trouble finding a match because there aren’t many minorities on the registry. So, it’s important for folks that are part of the Hispanic community to recognize and become aware of the need for them to become part of the registry," said Campos.
DeCasanova said that Be the Match is also focused on getting more minorities signed up in the registry.
“Patients that unfortunately have blood cancers like leukemias and lymphomas and some blood disease such as sickle cell or a plastic anemia, this can be their cure," said Jon DeCasanova of Be the Match.
Campos said her goal isn’t to cross the finish line first, but to help Briana finish her fight against cancer.
