CHATHAM-KENT: April 21, 2015 — National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week (Apr. 19-25) is recognized every year to remind Canadians of this critical need. Despite significant progress province-wide, there are still more than 1,500 Ontarians on the waiting list for a life saving organ transplant. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance 75 others through the gift of tissue. While 85% of Ontarians support organ donation, only 26% are registered.
To raise awareness and increase donor registration within Chatham-Kent, community partners teamed up and launched the Chatham-Kent…Give the Gift of Life organ and tissue registration campaign in December 2012. The goal of 250 new registered donors was surpassed within three weeks. The community’s ongoing support has brought the campaign tally to over 1,000. Today, a new campaign goal of 1,500 registered donors was announced.
The Chatham-Kent…Give the Gift of Life campaign has received tremendous support since its launch