Students at Kent State University had the chance to make a life-saving impact this week as the university’s campus chapter of Gift of Life Marrow Registry hosted its semesterly Mega Drive.

Throughout the week, students were encouraged to join the registry with a simple cheek swab that takes just a few minutes. The process is quick, but the potential impact is huge, as registered donors could one day be matched with a patient in need of a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

According to Gift of Life, the odds of being a perfect match are often around 1 in 1,000, but every new registration increases the chances of saving a life. Even for those who are never matched, the collected cheek swabs contribute to ongoing medical research for treatments for diseases like leukemia and lymphoma.

Beyond collecting swabs, the organization also focuses on raising awareness about blood cancers and encouraging more people to get involved, whether through donating, volunteering or simply spreading the word.

The mega drive concluded Friday evening, but the group sets up tables around campus once a week.

Kayci Balog is a reporter for KSTV. Contact her at [email protected].