She was among the best on the volleyball court at Western Kentucky University, and now her university is trying to help her win a very important battle off the court. As former Lady Topper Volleyball All-American Alyssa Cavanaugh continues her battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, WKU Athletics has teamed up with Be The Match and the Cavanaugh family to host a Bone Marrow Donor registry event to find a donor for Alyssa.
Three different WKU teams will take the court four times in Diddle Arena across a four-day span from Thursday-Sunday this week and WKU Athletics will have Be The Match registry tables set up at every entrance for fans to sign up to help find a donor match for Alyssa.
BONE MARROW DONOR REGISTRY EVENTS:
Thursday – Women’s Basketball Exhibition vs. West Virginia State – 6 p.m. CT
Friday – Volleyball vs. FIU – 6 p.m.
Saturday – Men’s Basketball Exhibition vs. Kentucky Wesleyan – 2 p.m. CT
Sunday – Volleyball (Senior Day) vs. Florida Atlantic – Noon CT
Registry tables will be set up by every normal entrance used for each sport’s home events in Diddle Arena and will be ready for fans when gates open. The doors for the women’s basketball game and the two volleyball matches will open an hour out while the doors for Saturday’s event will open at 12:30 p.m. CT. Registry tables will stay open to sign up throughout the duration of each event.
Fans can use their phones to text “Cure154” to 61474 to begin the sign-up process. QR codes will also be posted that fans can scan. Additionally, laptops will be available for anyone that doesn’t have a smart phone in hand. The online registration process takes less than 10 minutes. Once registered, a cheek swab kit will be sent to your address within 3-7 business days. When the kit arrives, swab the inside of your cheek and return it then sit back and wait to be called if you are a match.
Alyssa Cavanaugh, a 2017 WKU graduate, was a four-time All-American on the Lady Topper Volleyball team. She was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on September 5th. Cavanaugh is now undergoing treatment at a facility in her hometown of Louisville, as well as a center in Cincinnati.
(Courtesy WKU Athletics)