In 2023, Team 469 participated in our first annual bone marrow registry drive with Be the Match! Each year, approximately 18,000 people, ages 0-74, in just the United States alone are diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses where a bone marrow transplant or umbilical cord blood transplant (also known as BMT) from a related or non-related, matched donor is their best treatment option.

Team 469 deeply believes in causes such as Be the Match. Our lead mentor, Marjie Jenkins was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in July 2014 at the age of 31. This was on the heels of Las Guerrillas winning the World Championship for the second time. Ms. Jenkins went through a double mastectomy and 16 rounds of chemotherapy. During this time, she made many cancer friends along the way, and a few have had bone marrow transplants themselves. In October 2021, what Ms. Jenkins thought was bronchitis ended up being two liters of fluid in her lungs. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer of the left lung and bones. Since she is unable to donate herself, she decided to gather Team 469 to help recruit people who are able to donate. You never know… one day it could be you or a loved one needing The Match.