Ashley, 24, learned about the registry from a college friend and after reading stories about donors and recipients on the organization’s website, she ordered a swab kit online and completed it at home. “I was super excited to learn I was a match for a woman diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma! I never really thought it would actually happen, but then I got the letter in the mail and the phone call, and now I’m here, donating! I found all the donor stories on the website inspiring, and I find it is a really easy process. Helping someone in need is definitely worthwhile. Also, I got to come to Florida and, so far, have had fun going to the beach and the pool and just enjoyed exploring the area.”

Samuel, 25, joined the registry at Arizona State University during a drive held by Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He recently matched a 16-year-old young man diagnosed with leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer. “I joined the registry about five years ago. When I heard I was a match, I had a mixture of emotions: surprise, nervousness and excitement for the opportunity to help someone. This is a once-in-a-lifetime happening, to have this effect on someone else’s life – I couldn’t miss out on it! When I went to Florida for a couple days to donate, I spent some time at the beach, played mini golf, visited an art museum and ate a lot of good food too. If you are called upon to donate, it is really worth doing it.”

Derek, 28, has been in the registry since 2017, when he swabbed his cheeks at a drive organized by Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at UC-Santa Barbara. “I was in genuine shock that I was a match after eight years in the registry. You don’t expect to be the needle in the haystack and have your name called, but here we are. I was the donor for a man in his 70s diagnosed with myelodysplastic disorder. Donating is the right thing to do and visiting Gift of Life’s collection center was great. While there, I visited Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach and I snorkeled and went biking. I couldn’t be happier with the donation experience. It costs nothing to join Gift of Life and donate, and you’re doing something actually life-changing for another person.”

If you’d like your chance to save someone’s life, click here to order a swab kit to be sent to your home. Just complete the registration form, swab your cheeks, and return the kit in the postage paid envelope!