In an attempt to register 1,000 blood donors, Howard Hall kicks off its third annual blood drive today, which will take place from 9a.m.-6 p.m. in the LaFortune Ballroom.

The drive hopes to register 1,000 donors in the registry. The drive, which is also sponsored by the Minority Pre-Medical Association, will conduct the medical screening and blood work necessary to enter potential donors into the national bone marrow registry. The Shirt fund has completely subsidized the $60 per person cost.

"It's an amazing gift of life," said Jessica Howell, a Notre Dame senior who worked on last year's bone marrow drive.

Howard Hall co-commissioner Camilla Pollock said that advertisements and letters in The Observer as well as fliers and posters have helped advertise the drive.

"The challenge is getting the word out," she said.

Pollock said that she and other Howard Hall organizers mailed letters to all minority students in an attempt to encourage donations. The national registry is especially low on minority donors and patients in need of bone marrow usually find a match from their specific race. According to the National Marrow Donor Program, out of 15,556 unrelated marrow transplants, only 3,332 have been among minorities.

"It's really important that we get a diverse population,"

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