Binghamton University sophomore Matthew Murillo is challenging his peers: If he completes an Ironman triathlon in the fall, his friends must either sign up to donate bone marrow or make a monetary donation to The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation.
Rita Mogilanski/Contributing Photographer
“The reason I chose to support the bone marrow [registry] was because it seemed like a cause that not many people wanted to take part in because of the negative connotations it has with pain and the time it takes to donate,” he said. “I thought if I can show the amount of time I was willing to spend on the triathlon they would be able to overlook these factors.”
He’s teaming up with the Gift of Life Foundation to accomplish his mission.
Gift of Life is an associate of the National Marrow Donor Program and was started by Jay Feinberg, who was diagnosed with leukemia. He was told that he needed a bone marrow transplant to survive.
Through the triathlon, Murillo seeks to inspire 200 people to join the bone marrow registry and also raise $13,500 for Gift of Life. He also made the bet with his friends so they would also support the cause and spread awareness.
“Initially we took the bet as a joke,” said Andrew Lee, a friend of Murillo and a sophomore majoring in biology. “But then he really started putting himself out there and contacting bone marrow groups and we knew he was being serious.”
Lee said that he is confident in Murillo’s ability.
“When faced with a challenge, whether serious or casual, he won’t stop until he finishes.”
The Cedar Point Ironman triathlon, in which Murillo is set to participate, is scheduled for Sept. 12 in Sandusky, Ohio at 6:50 a.m. This will be Murillo’s first Cedar Point triathlon.
The triathlon begins at Cedar Point Amusement Park with a 2.4 mile swim in Lake Erie. The 112-mile bike ride is on parkways and highways in Ohio, and the 26.2-mile run finishes back at the amusement park.
— Anjana Nattanmai contributed to this report.