The Boston Celtics are rallying behind their longest-tenured athletic trainer, Ed Lacerte, who was recently diagnosed with a severe case of leukemia. On December 15, the team will wear special shooting shirts with a powerful message: '20 seconds could save a life.' This is a reference to the quick and easy process of joining the NMDP blood stem cell donor registry, which could potentially save Lacerte's life. The shirts will feature Lacerte's name on the back, a tribute to his dedication to the team from 1987 to 2017. The Celtics are also encouraging fans aged 18-35 to join the registry by offering cheek swabbing stations at the game. This initiative is a testament to Lacerte's remarkable career, which has spanned decades of service to the Boston Celtics and the U.S. Olympic sports, as well as his role in the USA Basketball 'Dream Team' in 1992. He has been honored with the Joe O'Toole NBA Athletic Trainer of the Year award three times and has contributed significantly to the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA). The team's support for Lacerte is a heartwarming display of solidarity, and it highlights the importance of blood stem cell donation in treating and potentially curing blood-related diseases. Every 3-4 minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with blood cancer, and a diverse registry of blood stem cell donors is crucial for finding matches for patients of all ethnic backgrounds. The Celtics' initiative is a call to action for fans to join the registry and potentially save lives.
