Shaquille O’Neal is a big dude. At 7’1″, 325 pounds and with a size 22 shoe, he’s one of the biggest guys in NBA history, and the four-time NBA champ has used that size to his advantage throughout his storied career. He may currently be shelved with a busted thumb, but you can be sure he’ll be ready come playoff time to help the Cleveland Cavaliers try and secure their first NBA title.
Shaq, as it turns out, also has a big heart, one he’s using to let people know about the urgent need for bone marrow donors. He’s joined up with Be The Match, a group that helps people who want to give bone marrow or umbilical cord blood, in their Do Something Big campaign. As Shaq said in the Business Wire press release, “There’s nothing bigger than life — not when someone you love is fighting to live. That’s why I’m letting people know they have the power to save a life by joining the Be The Match Registry.” Shaq filmed three different public service announcements to get the word out, one of which you can see below.
Bone marrow transplants are sometimes the only hope for those fighting leukemia, lymphoma and similar life-threatening diseases. The problem is, according to the release, 70 percent of patients can’t find a matching donor within their families, stressing the importance of others donating bone marrow. If you’re interested in becoming a donor, you can join the registry here.
Photo courtesy of Be The Match/Business Wire.