To what length would you go to save someone's life?
Would factoring in that the process is fairly simple and non-invasive change your mind?
For hundreds of blood cancer patients each year, their only hope for survival is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
We're talking about people diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia.
With the rate of diagnosis for these diseases on the rise, those with the Be the Match Registry say they need all the viable candidates they can get.
The majority of the time, experts say the donation procedure is non-invasive.
"Seventy-seven percent of the time, the donation uses the exact same machine that's used for the harvesting of plasma, or platelets," says John Philpott, community engagement representative for Be the Match. "College students do it all the time. It's not a scary machine."
Up until 8 p.m. Thursday, July 14, you can stop by City Hall West in Boise to learn more about the program and sign up.
You have to be between the ages of 18-44.
All that's needed, first and foremost, is a commitment and that some paperwork be filled out. Once a saliva sample is gathered, you're on you way.
About one in 34 people in the registry actually get the call for help.
"While the chances are pretty small I guarantee you that if you ever come up as a match for a patient, there's a 100 percent chance that patient is counting on you to follow through with that commitment," Philpott says.
If you missed the event, you can sign up via the web by visiting https://Join.BeTheMatch.org/Boise[Join.BeTheMatch.org].
