OU Fans Can Help This Friday

NORMAN, Okla. - Last year during the team's annual media day, most of the Oklahoma football players plus members of the athletics staff and some media went through the simple process of entering their names and health information with the National Bone Marrow Program.

So successful was the venture that Bob Stoops and his staff have decided to take the process to the fans, as well. A registration area will be designated between the tennis and soccer stadiums during Friday's Meet the Sooners Day.

"The registration is a painless and quick process that might eventually result in our opportunity to save someone's life," Stoops said. "We don't often get the chance to help someone else like that and I assume that all of us would be willing to do so if we could.

"I know how enthusiastic our fans are when they get behind something and I hope they can take the time to help some people who really need it this Friday."

Only 30 percent of those needing a bone marrow transplant are able to find a suitable donor among family members. Therefore, a larger pool of donors is needed. It is estimated that some 10,000 Americans require a bone marrow transplant each year.

Stoops cites his involvement with cancer patients, many of whom require a bone marrow transplant, as a driving force behind his interest in the program.

Registrants must be between the ages of 18-60 and in generally good health. They must present a driver's license or social security number, complete an information form, answer health questions, sign an agreement to join the registration and then swab the inside of their mouth.

Typically, an actual bone marrow donation is an out-patient procedure similar to blood donation.

The entire process takes between 10-15 minutes, according to the Oklahoma Blood Institute, which will be administering the event.