As you enter the West Gym, your eyes are immediately drawn to a bright orange table featuring the words “Swab. Match. Cure.” Curiosity? Already piqued. Informational flyers and standups are neatly displayed along its length. Three enthusiastic students welcome you in. Another five manage a table full of cards, pamphlets, and an assortment of snacks and drinks. The atmosphere feels lively… what is this, a party? Nope.

This is Great Neck South’s very own bone marrow swab drive.

On October 24, 2025, Great Neck South High School hosted New York State’s first-ever student-led bone marrow swab drive. The initiative was led by juniors Bryan Cheng and Austin Jin, and senior Ellen Zhang. They’re the founders of Project Life International, a nonprofit collaborating with the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, GNS DECA, and Key Club. Held alongside the Red Cross Blood Drive, their event aimed to educate students about bone marrow donation, dispel common misconceptions, and register as many potential donors as possible.

Stem cell transplants from bone marrow are critical treatments for patients with leukemia, who rely on matches from donor registries. Today, the National Blood Marrow Bank has about 9 million registries. In comparison, 4 million US high school seniors, potential donors, graduate annually. Existing registrations are also predominantly Caucasian, making it difficult for patients of other ethnicities to receive matches.

Cheng, Jin, and Zhang first conceived the idea of organizing a bone marrow drive in January 2025. “Both [Austin’s and my] grandparents suffered and passed away from leukemia,” Zhang explained. “That’s why we were inspired to learn more about bone marrow and the whole transplantation process.” Furthermore, the team wanted to tap into the clear potential of high school bone marrow drives and to increase diversity—specifically, Asian representation—in bone marrow registries.

To achieve their vision, the team began tackling the logistics of organizing the drive. They contacted Gift of Life, the second-largest facilitator of bone marrow registries in the United States, for materials (swab kits, wristbands, stickers, etc.) and in-depth training on the donation process. They also spoke with school administrators to gain approval for the event.

However, the most challenging part wasn’t the planning—it was the marketing. “[When people] hear bone marrow drive, they automatically think, they’re going to stick a needle in me,” said Cheng. “That’s not the case. Swabbing is just using a Q-tip to scrape the inside of your cheek.”

To combat these misconceptions and promote the event to students, the team took to social media. Their Instagram page, @project.life.intl, quickly gained over 1,000 followers. They posted humorous Instagram reels, informational posts about the event, and even a video demonstrating the simplicity of bone marrow swabbing. This strategy was aided by word-of-mouth advertising among GNS students.

Finally, on the day of the event, participants aged 17+ completed cheek swabs and filled out basic health forms. This information would determine whether they might be a match for patients in need of bone marrow donation. By the end of the event, over 45 potential donors were added to the bone marrow registry.

While the drive may be over, Project Life International isn’t stopping anytime soon. The initiative has already grown beyond a single event, expanding its efforts to raise funds and raise awareness of blood cancer research. In fact, the nonprofit has established eighteen chapters globally.

“This is the first step. It’s only gonna be up from now, as more people [learn] about how easy it is to swab and how it’s not actually a dangerous procedure,” Zhang said. The team hopes to find greater success in future bone marrow drives held nationwide. To begin working toward these endeavors, they helped organize a bone marrow drive at Great Neck North High School and a cardmaking event for hospitalized children at South.

For Cheng, Jin, and Zhang, this experience was far more than a simple school project. It served as an invaluable lesson in taking initiative and believing in student-led change. “[Organize initiatives for] something you’re passionate about,” Jin encouraged. “If you want to spread awareness about something, just reach out to people, and they’ll be happy to help.”