A total of 847 potential donors registered at the fifth annual Mandi Schwartz Marrow Donor Registration Drive, which was held outside Commons on Thursday.
The drive, which is named after Yale women’s ice hockey player Mandi Schwartz ’11, who passed away after a two-year battle with cancer, registered about 300 more than last year’s effort, which encouraged about 500 people to register as potential bone marrow donors.
In Mandi’s memory, the drive is now led by the field hockey, football and women’s ice hockey teams. This year, the New Haven County Medical Association provided assistance as well.
“Every extra person helps,” said Sam Rubin, who worked on the organizing team. “People should know that this is about saving life.”
Rubin added that this year, student athletes have led many creative efforts to attract more potential donors, including a study break on Old Campus and sending many emails about the effort.
These efforts have located at least 17 life-saving matches for patients in need.