The SWIC Black History Month Bone Marrow Drive scheduled for Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is an annual event, but this year it takes on more significance. It could save the life of one of our own.

Cody Schanuel, nephew of a SWIC employee, has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The 19-year-old started classes at SWIC this semester. However, he decided to drop the classes to focus on his health.

He was interviewed on KTVI, Fox 2 Feb. 4 and told the reporter that he needs a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. “This is pretty much the last resort. The last thing they can do to help me,” he said.

Schanuel will return to school once he is matched with a donor and the stem cell transplant is complete.

As part of the television interview, a representative from the National Marrow Donor Program’s Be the Match Registry showed how easy it is to register and dispelled myths about donation.  

Watch the interview to find out more about Cody, donor registration and donation.