Get in the Game 2025

On May 7, Red Square at the University of Washington was transformed into a powerful center of hope and action as students, faculty, staff, and UW Athletics joined forces for the annual Get in the Game event. Hosted in proud partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and the NMDP UW Registered Student Organization, this initiative is dedicated to expanding the bone marrow registry and educating the UW community about the life-saving work of the NMDP.

This year’s event also welcomed Bloodworks Northwest, who engaged with students, faculty, and staff to share the impactful work they’re doing throughout the Pacific Northwest.

We are thrilled to announce that 193 new potential donors were registered during this year’s event, including 104 from ethnically diverse backgrounds—an incredible step toward building a more inclusive and life-saving donor registry.

A powerful partnership with purpose

UW’s partnership with NMDP is centered on a life-saving mission: connecting patients battling life-threatening blood diseases and cancers with matching bone marrow donors. Finding a perfect match can be the difference between life and death, and unfortunately, the odds of finding a match are significantly lower for people of color and those of mixed-race ancestry. While white individuals have a 75% chance of finding a match, Black and African American patients face just a 19% chance. That’s why increasing diversity in the donor registry is not just important—it’s essential. And thanks to efforts like Get in the Game, UW is helping lead the charge toward a more inclusive future in marrow donation.

This partnership plays a crucial role in linking individuals battling life-threatening blood diseases and cancers with potential life-saving donors. Learn more about this partnership.

Keep the momentum going

To date, more than 500 UW students, faculty, and staff have registered to be part of the marrow donor registry. And we’re just getting started.

You can also support NMDP through the UW Combined Fund Drive by making a one-time or recurring donation. Every swab, dollar and voice bring us closer to curing over 70 blood disorders, including many forms of leukemia.

Alexes Harris’s passion project

Dr. Alexes Harris, professor of Sociology and UW Regent is the heart of this annual event. Her passion for raising awareness and growing the NMDP registry comes from a personal battle with myelodysplastic syndrome.

As Dr. Harris reminds us: “The registry is about giving people more time. It brings me so much joy to see students out there and recognize that they have the power to fight cancer.”

This event would not be possible without the partnership of NMDP and the help of all our volunteers within UW Athletics and the UW student body. Here are some of our favorite moments from the afternoon!

UW Athletics volunteer helps a student finish the registration process.

Two UW Football athletes make the decision to join the registry before starting their volunteer shift!

UW Men’s soccer pose for photo during volunteer shift!

A student passing on their way to class learn about NMDP from a UW Gymnastic athlete.

NMDP, UW Athletics, The Whole U and student volunteers were very busy spreading the word and walking new donors through the registration process.

The Whole U team snaps a photo with Dubs!

Let’s continue this momentum—and keep fighting for more time, more matches and more lives saved.

A thank you to our sponsors and partners: TIAA, NMDP and BloodWorks NW!