CFCC Student and Bone Marrow Transplant Survivor Host Life-Saving Donor Drive
Pictured left to right: Isabella Cancro (CFCC student and Amanda’s daughter), Noah Cooper (CFCC student and Amanda’s son), and Amanda Cooper.
Wilmington, NC (October 9, 2025) – Cape Fear Community College student Amanda Cooper is turning her personal journey of survival into an opportunity to help others in need of life-saving transplants. On Thursday, October 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Amanda will host a bone marrow/stem cell donor drive in the Union Station lobby at CFCC’s downtown campus.
For Amanda, this event is more than a service project for her English class, it’s deeply personal. “I am a bone marrow transplant survivor,” she shared. “I received a transplant for a rare blood disorder, and it saved my life. I chose October 23rd for the drive because it’s my donor’s birthday. This drive is my way of honoring them – by helping educate others on the donation process, answering questions, and hopefully registering new potential donors.”
During the event, participants will have the opportunity to register for the National Marrow Donor Program. Donor kits will be available, and the process only requires a quick swab of both cheeks and some basic personal information.
According to the National Marrow Donor Program, someone in the United States is diagnosed with blood cancer or blood disease every three minutes. Approximately 70% of patients who need a bone marrow transplant don’t have a matching donor in their family and must rely on the national registry. Yet only a fraction of the population is currently represented in the registry, making it difficult for many patients to find a match.
“Registering as a donor could give someone else the same second chance I was given,” Amanda said. “It’s quick, painless, and you could be the reason someone gets to live a full life.”
To learn more about the donor registry, or to complete your registration online, visit https://my.nmdp.org/CooperA .
