In December 2021, Naz Reid’s childhood mentor and father figure, Rudy Roundtree, received a terrifying diagnosis – leukemia, which is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. A stem cell transplant was suggested as a treatment option for leukemia. However, it was a little too late for Naz’s Rudy. Needless to say, the passing away of Roundtree shook him to the core.

Having experienced the trauma and helplessness of just standing watch as your loved one fought for their life every single minute, Reid decided he would extend a helping hand to not let another family go through what he did. And that’s how he learned of the 7-year-old Cayden Addison. Now that he was aware of the brave little boy battling leukemia at such a tender age, Reid had to do something – extend a helping hand. Yet another lesson he learned from his beloved Rudy.

“He kind of taught me those ropes with care and being there for someone, the next person, and he kind of installed it into my head and into my life. So it’s kind of like second nature to me now, giving that hand or that care. So I think this is definitely huge for me,” the New Jersey native revealed to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. 

Naz Reid’s influence and reach are exactly what he hopes will prove to be a plus in his efforts to educate the public and raise awareness of how registering as stem cell donors can potentially be the only hope for a family literally out of all options. It goes without saying that this entails paying out of his own pocket.

The consistent efforts of Naz Reid may very well be the beacon of hope for blood cancer patients

Reid met the Addisons through NMDP, a nonprofit organization formerly known as the National Marrow Donor Program. They also operate the ‘Be The Match Registry’ of volunteer hematopoietic cell donors and umbilical cord blood units in the United States. Having worked with them to raise awareness about the need for more stem cell donors, particularly those of color, Naz’s appearance in the life of Cayden was surely a step in the right direction.

But why was Reid’s involvement so necessary? The NMDP registry has 7 million American donors alone. In addition, their connection to registries worldwide increases the number of potential donors to 41 million! But this is where it gets challenging. According to Erica Jensen, senior vice president of innovation, strategy, and marketing for NMDP, “about 58 percent of the people on the register who are called when a match is found decline to go through with the donation.” 

And for people of color, it is much more difficult. Given that the NMDP is a nonprofit organization, everything they do is thanks to the selfless donations and help they receive. The involvement of a globally recognized athlete like Naz Reid automatically provides a platform for them to have a much wider reach. As mentioned above, there is no doubt that the man in question would have offered financial assistance, especially for a cause that is so very close to his heart.

NMDP is already moving things to make the best use of this opportunity. On World Marrow Day (Sep. 21), the organization has arranged events to encourage donors to sign up in three major cities – Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and New York. And Naz Reid has already confirmed his presence for the festivities in Minneapolis. Because “when Naz speaks, the people of Minnesota listen.”