Elon Football Player Donates Bone Marrow, Highlighting Successful Collaboration with Nursing Program
Elon University football player Jake Marion ’26 recently donated bone marrow through a collaborative initiative between the Elon football program and the Club Nursing organization, marking the first donation through Elon’s “Be the Match” program. The partnership aims to raise awareness and increase participation in bone marrow donation.
A Unique Partnership for a Vital Cause
Every spring, members of Elon’s Club Nursing and the football team volunteer at Lakeside dining to support bone marrow donation registration. This collaboration brought together Marion’s athletic and academic communities on campus. Marion initially joined the bone marrow registry through the Elon Football program in 2022, and although he had been a potential match in previous years, a sufficiently high match wasn’t found until this year.
The Donation Process
In January, Marion received notification of a potential match and began the donation process. This involved comprehensive testing, including blood tests to confirm a 100% match, a detailed questionnaire, a metabolic panel, and a thorough physical examination. Prior to the retrieval process, Marion received filgrastim injections for a week to increase his stem cell count. The donation itself was a six-hour process involving intravenous access in both arms, where blood was processed to extract stem cells and then returned to his system.
Impact and Support
Assistant Professor of Nursing and Club Nursing faculty advisor, Jeanmarie Koonts, praised Marion’s dedication, noting his ability to balance his academic workload and athletic commitments while prioritizing the needs of another individual. “Jake is putting the compassion, commitment and caring of nursing into action. He is truly giving himself to build someone’s life better,” Koonts said. Marion will miss three days of classes to recover from the donation.
The Importance of Bone Marrow Donation
The National Marrow Donor Program (formerly Be The Match) is a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing awareness and participation in the bone marrow registry. Marion expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to potentially save a life, stating, “Cancer is a huge problem, and I think the ability to even have the chance to help someone live longer or cure their specific type of cancer is really just an awesome feeling.”
Upcoming Event
The next Club Nursing “Be the Match” event will be held on March 30, 2026. Those interested in learning more can contact Club Nursing directly.
Sources:
- Elon University News – Elon Football and Club Nursing Initiative Matches First Student
- Elon University News – Two Elon Football Players Currently Enrolled in Nursing Program