Students Launch Drive to Save Lives

The Tulane Jewish Leaders program, an initiative of Tulane Hillel, is holding a bone marrow drive today (April 12) through April 16.

Approximately 70 student volunteers will be taking DNA swabs at stations located across Tulane's uptown campus, its downtown health sciences campus, and at the Jewish Community Center in Metairie, La.

The drive is spearheaded by first-year students Jillian Goldberg and Mia Wirtshafter. Goldberg became interested in bone marrow matching programs last year after babysitting a very sick 5-year-old boy. Because no member of the boy's family was a compatible match to donate bone marrow that might save his life, the family turned to an international registry from which a donor was identified.

Through their involvement in the Tulane Jewish Leaders program, Goldberg and Wirtshafter turned that personal interest into an event that could benefit others.

Dates and locations are:

• Stern Hall, 9–11 a.m. April 12–16
• Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. April 12–16
• Bruff Commons, 5–8 p.m. April 12–16
• Loyola University Danna Center today (April 12) and Wednesday (April 14), 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Reily Student Recreation Center Tuesday (April 13), 4–7 p.m.
• Tulane School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave. Thursday (April 15), 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• The Goldring-Woldenberg Jewish Community Campus, 3747 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, La., Sunday (April 18), noon–2:30 p.m.

Also, DNA swabs and kits are available to parents of students and alumni across the country by registering with the Hillel group on the Gift of Life donor program website. When prompted for a code, type in: "Who Dat Hillel" to be added to the official group.

For more information on becoming a donor, contact Goldberg, Wirtshafter or Elliot Cowan with Hillel.