(from left to right) Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Villanova University head football coach Andy Talley, Bob Levy, chairman of the Philadelphia Sports Congress.
Sixteen years ago, Villanova University football coach Andy Talley had a simple idea that has since resulted in thousands of people joining the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) Registry.
His mission to recruit potential donors began after his wife Arlene battled - and has since overcome - cancer.
The Wildcats' football coach for 24 years, Talley has recruited more than 3,500 potential bone marrow donors by encouraging his football team and their friends to join the Registry.
Each April during Spring Day, a Villanova celebration of spring, he sets aside 30 minutes to register the 90 football players in his program - and anyone else who'd like to join - to increase the likelihood that patients in need of a life-saving bone marrow or cord blood transplant find the match they need.
Today, Coach Talley's efforts reach beyond Villanova University. He has orchestrated similar drives with eight other football teams around the country. Last year alone 2,600 players joined as a result of his work.
Talley recently received the Philadelphia Sports Congress Community Service Award for his inspiring efforts to support the work of the NMDP.
Sixteen years ago, Villanova University football coach Andy Talley had a simple idea that has since resulted in thousands of people joining the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) Registry.
His mission to recruit potential donors began after his wife Arlene battled - and has since overcome - cancer.
The Wildcats' football coach for 24 years, Talley has recruited more than 3,500 potential bone marrow donors by encouraging his football team and their friends to join the Registry.
Each April during Spring Day, a Villanova celebration of spring, he sets aside 30 minutes to register the 90 football players in his program - and anyone else who'd like to join - to increase the likelihood that patients in need of a life-saving bone marrow or cord blood transplant find the match they need.
Today, Coach Talley's efforts reach beyond Villanova University. He has orchestrated similar drives with eight other football teams around the country. Last year alone 2,600 players joined as a result of his work.
Talley recently received the Philadelphia Sports Congress Community Service Award for his inspiring efforts to support the work of the NMDP.