A delegation from the Palmerston Lions Club appeared before council here to promote awareness of the need for organ and tissue donations.
April is National Be a Donor Month.
“Organ donation is an incredible, incredible service that we can all provide,” club member Jane Blears stated at the March 29 meeting.
Blears noted there are 1,600 people on the waiting list for donations at any given time and “one of those persons dies every three days waiting for that transplant.”
The deaths, says Blears, are “so unnecessary.” She noted while 80 per cent of people asked say they are willing to donate organs, only 20 per cent sign up to do so.
“So we really want to make people aware of the process,” said Blears, who explained organ donation is now handled through Service Ontario and keyed to a donor’s health card.
“So please, please make your wishes known,” she urged.
MPP urges donations
Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece is also promoting organ donation during Be a Donor Month.
“Just one organ donor can save up to eight lives,” he stated in an April 15 press release.
Pettapiece’s uncle received a heart transplant, and he states his family will be forever grateful for the donation.
To register to be a donor, or to check donor status, visit: www.beadonor.ca.
