Ontario celebrates registered organ and tissue donors and highlights the need for more
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TORONTO, April 1, 2016 /CNW/ - Today marks the start of BeADonor month in Ontario. Right now there are over 1,600 people waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Every three days, someone dies waiting.
Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) is calling on Ontarians to register their consent for organ and tissue donation and encourage others to do the same. When families have evidence that their loved one wanted to be an organ donor, they are more likely to consent. Where there is no proof, families consent only half of the time.
"We often hear from donor families that their loved one's gift has brought them solace in their grief," said Ronnie Gavsie, President and CEO, TGLN. "When a potential donor is registered, families have the comfort of knowing they are affirming their loved one's wishes."
To kick off BeADonor month, the CN Tower will be lit green this evening to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation, and to let this be a reminder to talk to your family about your wishes. Throughout the month you'll see Ontario's hospitals, schools, elected officials and community groups doing their part to inspire everyone to register and have the conversation about organ and tissue donation.
"Now is the perfect time to join the 3.4 million Ontarians who have proudly registered as organ and tissue donors," says Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario's Minister of Health and Long Term Care. "It takes two minutes at www.BeADonor.ca. One donor can save up to eight lives and enhance up to 75 more through the gift of tissue. Why wouldn't you save a life if you could?"
Once you've registered your consent, share your reason with friends and family on social media, use #BeADonor and #MyReason. Watch those hashtags through the month of April for inspiring stories and interesting perspectives on organ and tissue donation and transplant.
In 2015, 269 deceased and 279 living donors gave the gift of life to 1,086 transplant recipients. More than 2,100 tissue donors helped improve the lives of thousands through the gift of eyes, bone, skin, or heart valves.
Media are invited to contact Trillium Gift of Life Network for the registration rate in their community, or to be connected with a local story about the impact of organ and tissue donation.
Trillium Gift of Life Network is a not-for-profit agency of the Government of Ontario responsible for planning, promoting, coordinating and supporting organ and tissue donation for transplantation across Ontario and improving the system so that more lives can be saved.
SOURCE Trillium Gift of Life Network
Video with caption: "Asking Too Much?". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20160401_C7072_VIDEO_EN_655034.mp4&posterurl=http%3a%2f%2fphotos.newswire.ca%2fimages%2f20160401_C7072_PHOTO_EN_655034.jpg&order=1&jdd=20160401&cnum=C7072
Image with caption: "Organ Donation (CNW Group/Trillium Gift of Life Network)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160401_C7072_PHOTO_EN_655000.jpg
Image with caption: "Tissue Donation (CNW Group/Trillium Gift of Life Network)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160401_C7072_PHOTO_EN_655004.jpg
Jennifer Long, Media Relations Coordinator, 416-619-2327, c. 647-526-6941, [email protected]
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