January 9, 2023
Mayville State University is teaming up with NMDP (National Marrow Donor Program), formerly known as Be the Match, to help facilitate potential stem cell donor matches. Those who are open to the possibility of becoming a match and delivering a cure for blood cancers and diseases may stop by the Mayville State University Campus Center between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. There will also be an opportunity to register for the match program from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the May-Port CG High School. On that evening, May-Port CG will host Hillsboro-Central Valley in double header girls and boys basketball games.
Those who wish to participate will have a cheek swabbed and be added to the registry. The optimum age for donors is 18 to 35. Being on the registry doesn’t guarantee a participant will be matched. It may take months or years to find out that a person on the registry is a match, but if a person becomes a match for someone in need, they’ll have the power to save a life. Learn more at www.mayvillestate.edu/CometsCureCancer.
The Comets Cure Cancer for Jason campaign is being held to honor the life and legacy of Jason Perkins, a Mayville State alumnus who was a member of the Comets Football chain-gang, where he loved being close to the field. At athletic events in Mayville State’s Lewy Lee Fieldhouse, Jason and his family could typically be found in the top row of the bleachers. He truly loved Mayville State sports and believed that sports united humanity. He believed in the goodness of humanity.
Jason Perkins was also a member of the Mayville-Portland American Legion color guard group, who present our nation’s colors at numerous community events.
Prior to coming to Mayville, Jason served in two branches of service, the Marine Corps and the Air Force. The Pennsylvania native grew to love North Dakota and the people during his time of military service in the state. When he left the military, he decided to go back to school to finish his college degree. He became a student at Mayville State University and graduated in 2017.
Jason was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in 2019. He received treatment in Fargo and went into remission in August of that year. During a routine check in December of 2022, Jason’s blood test numbers started to come back as abnormal. After a lot of testing, he was found to have Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). A bone marrow or stem cell transplant was his only possibility for a cure.
Jason did not have a fully matched donor in his family, so he relied on NMDP to help him find a match and potential donor. He received his matched stem cells on Oct. 31, 2023. If it were not for someone giving him the gift of their cells, he would not have had the opportunity for a cure.
Sadly, after a valiant fight, Jason lost his battle with cancer in December of 2023. He is survived by his wife, Hanah, and sons, Wyatt and Ethan, who live in Mayville, N.D.
The Comets Cure Cancer for Jason event is being coordinated by the Mayville State University Student Athletic Advisory Council. These student athlete leaders are eager to assist in honor of a fellow Comets and Mayville State supporters, the late Jason Perkins and his family.
In his last few months of life, Jason was honored and proud to know that Mayville State would be hosting a recruitment drive to help find matches that would lead to cures for cancer. Each person who signs up for the registry and goes on to donate will honor the life of Jason Perkins. Learn more about what is involved with signing up for the registry as well as the Comets Curt Cancer for Jason event at www.mayvillestate.edu/cometscurecancer.