University of North Carolina Athletics
Football Team Kicks Off UNC's "Save The Fox" Campaign
October 7, 2015 | Football, Carolina Outreach
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Members of the North Carolina football team kicked off the UNC Athletic Department's bone marrow blood drive on Tuesday, Oct. 6, as part of the “Save The Fox” campaign to help Superior Court Judge Carl Fox (UNC '75).
Fox, who grew up in Mount Olive, N.C., attended UNC as an undergrad and earned his law degree from UNC in 1978. Judge Fox was diagnosed in April with myelodysplastic syndrome, a cancer in which the bone marrow fails to make enough healthy blood cells. According to research from deletebloodcancer.org, a bone marrow match for Fox, who is an African-American, is most likely to come from a person with a similar ethnic background.
Following Tuesday's football practice, more than 70 Carolina players and coaches voluntarily participated in the bone marrow registration process.
“Carl Fox is such an inspirational story and it was interesting to learn about how he's helped so many in this community,” said senior running back Romar Morris. “I knew I would participate and I would be happy to receive the call as a donor. I would do whatever I could to help someone prolong their life and beat this disease.”
Later that evening, Fox called into Larry Fedora's weekly radio show at Top of the Hill restaurant.
“The football program is always looking to help in our community and this is a great opportunity to assist someone who not only went to the University of North Carolina as an undergrad, but also got his law degree from UNC and has served our state for more than 30 years,” said head coach Larry Fedora. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Carl as he battles this disease.”
Several additional bone marrow registry events will be held throughout October at Carolina athletic events. They are:
• Wednesday, Oct. 7 – Members of UNC's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) will host a bone marrow registration drive for all student-athletes beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Loudermilk Center.
• Friday, Oct. 9 – Fans at the UNC volleyball match vs. Virginia at 6 p.m. can register in the lobby of Carmichael Arena with Delete Blood Cancer. This is the annual “Turn It Pink” match to honor all cancer survivors.
• Saturday, Oct. 10 – A Delete Blood Cancer registry table for fan participation will be set up at the men's soccer game at Fetzer Field at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 17 – A Delete Blood Cancer registry table for fan participation will be set up in Tar Heel Town at the football game vs. Wake Forest. This is North Carolina's annual Cancer Awareness game. A registration table will also be available on the Kenan Stadium concourse.
“The process is very easy and painless,” says Bob Murray, donor recruitment coordinator for Delete Blood Cancer. “Participants simply need to complete a registration form and have their cheek swabbed with a sterile cotton swab.”
About Carl Fox
Judge Carl Fox has led an active and interesting life: In 1984, he was appointed the first black District Attorney in North Carolina where he served for more than 20 years. In 2005, he became Senior Superior Court Judge and holds the position to this day. He's also well-known for baking delicious cheesecakes and giving them away to people! Carl was recently diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and has used his fight as an opportunity to shed light on the need for more African Americans to join the bone marrow registry. “My chances of a match increase if there are more young African American donors on the registry,” said Fox, who launched a Facebook campaign called “Save the Fox.”
DeleteBloodCancer.org Mission
Our mission is our name. We work every day to delete blood cancer by inspiring as many people as possible to register as bone marrow donors to provide patients with second chances at life. We are achieving this by celebrating how donors can save lives, dispelling the myths about the donation process and providing our hospital partners with quality donations in a timely manner.
Great turnout by players & coaches for bone marrow registry at Kenan, including @CoachFedora pic.twitter.com/daVonKk3Cx
— Carolina Football (@TarHeelFootball) October 6, 2015
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