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Donor sister letter to the editor: Say “yes”
We thank Melanie, of Fort Collins, for sharing her heartfelt advocacy for the cause of organ, eye and tissue donation with her hometown newspaper over the holidays. Melanie is the sister of an organ donor; check out her message:
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Melanie, the sister of an organ donor, from Fort Collins, CO[/caption]Letter: Say “yes” to organ, tissue donation
Between the gift-buying frenzy and holiday festivities, it can be hard to remember to slow down and be grateful for what you have this season. As the sister of a deceased eye and tissue donor, the holidays are a time when I like to remember my heroic brother’s gifts of life, and to be grateful for the second chance he gave to so many others.
My brother Dirk made the decision to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor when he was 18-years-old. Tragically, just over a decade later, in 2013, Dirk’s life was cut short after an accidental fall, and his commitment to being a donor was fulfilled. After Dirk’s death, he became a tissue and eye donor. Just one tissue donor can save or heal the lives of up to 50 people.
36K African Americans Wait For Transplants
In celebration of Black History Month, we recognize the more than 36,000 African Americans who are waiting for a lifesaving transplant right now. In our community alone there are more than 250 African Americans waiting for an organ transplant.
Transplants matches made within the same ethnic group can be more compatible, which is why it’s important that more African Americans and other minorities register to be organ, eye and tissue donors. You can designate your decision and register as an organ, eye and tissue donor today at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.
Severity of illness, time spent waiting, blood/tissue type, size and distance are the factors that determine a person’s place on the organ transplant waiting list.
Your decision to register could help save the lives of people like Floyd, a pastor from Colorado Springs who is currently waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant.
Vinny Castilla Public Service Announcement
Heroes say yes! Thank you to baseball great and Colorado hometown hero Vinny Castilla for supporting organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation. You can learn more and register as a donor at DonateLifeColorado.org!
Thousands Celebrate the Gift of Life at 2015 Donor Dash
On July 19th, Donor Alliance hosted the 16th Annual Donor Dash at Washington Park in Denver. More than 4,600 registered participants gathered to support and spread awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation. The Donor Dash is a 5K run/walk to honor the lives of organ, eye and tissue donors, celebrate the lives of organ, eye and tissue recipients and recognize those who continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant.
Across the United States, more than 120,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. In Colorado and Wyoming alone, 2,716 people are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. The Donor Dash provides this awareness to the community, allowing others to understand the importance and need for organ, eye and tissue donors; and ultimately encouraging those who are not registered to consider registering. Linda Seavey, liver recipient, expressed her gratitude for registered donors after participating in the Donor Dash. “I am so grateful for people that are selfless and generous and are willing to register to be organ donors. There are people like me, lots of people, that owe their lives to them and I just can’t say how important that is.”
This event provides those directly impacted by transplantation and donation the opportunity to honor, celebrate and recognize their connection with others. Andrea Smith, the Public Relations Director at Donor Alliance, explains the event is about “the camaraderie, the spirit and the celebration of life. Donor families mix in with recipients; it’s that kinship that these families and loved ones feel with each other, it’s unique to any other event.”
The Donor Dash has evolved into one of the largest organ, eye and tissue donation awareness events in Colorado. It occurs annually the third Sunday in July. The 17th Annual Donor Dash will be Sunday, July 17th 2016.
Donor Dash is an annual signature event presented by Donor Alliance. Donor Alliance is the federally-designated, Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) accredited, non-profit organ procurement organization serving Colorado and most of Wyoming. As a recognized leader in facilitating the donation and recovery of transplantable organs and tissues, Donor Alliance’s mission is to save lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation.