FranU Supports Team Cate Bone Marrow Donor Registration Drive
April 14, 2026
FranU is partnering in the Team Cate Bone Marrow Registration Drive to help 11-year-old Cate Hargett find a lifesaving donor match. Cate, who has battled a rare blood disorder since infancy and now faces a serious genetic mutation, urgently needs a bone marrow transplant.
Community members are invited to participate by completing a simple cheek swab at designated locations:
FranU:
- Wednesday, April 22 | 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (2 tables)
- Thursday, April 23 | 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (2 tables)
LSU:
- Thursday, April 23 | 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Parade Grounds & the Quad
- Friday, April 24 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Free Speech Alley & the Quad
OLOL Cancer Institute:
- Friday, April 24 | 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (2 tables)
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who can join the registry? Anyone aged 18-35. Persons with diverse cultural backgrounds are especially needed!
What do I do? All you have to do is swab the inside of your mouth! We will send your sample to the
national registry. Once you are in the registry, you'll need to keep your contact
information up to date.
How does it work? Doctors search the database for people to match with their patients who need bone
marrow donation. It could be months or years if you are matched!
What happens if I match? You will be asked to give a blood test to confirm the match. If you do match, 90%
of donors simply donate blood, similar to plasma donation.
I thought bone marrow donation was painful! Not at all. Only 10% of donors are asked to provide bone marrow, and the procedure
is done under general anesthesia!
Learn more about Cate’s story here.
Learn about NMDP here.
Learn more about the NMDP Registry here.
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