Sudbury proclaims Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week

Every three days, someone in Ontario dies while waiting for an organ transplant.

But even one person can help change that statistic by making the decision to donate their organs, said the publicity chair for Sudbury's Organ Donation Awareness committee.

Currently, there are about 1,500 people in Ontario waiting on organ and tissue implants, said Richard St. Amour.

Tissue donations can help up to 75 recipients.

Mayor Marianne Matichuk proclaimed the week of April 21-28 as Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week in the Sudbury.

Furthermore, plans are in the works for the 14th Annual Michael O’Reilly Walk for a Second Chance.

The purpose of the walk is to draw attention to the urgent need for organ donors and the importance of organ donor registration to the people in the Greater City of Sudbury.

“Our committee is justly proud of what we have accomplished with our walk since year 2000,” said St Amour.

He said 45 per cent of the citizens in Sudbury have registered to be an organ donor.

Garson and Hanmer have the highest donor rates in Ontario with 50 per cent of their population registering to be an organ donor, while Lively and Val Caron have 49 per cent.

However, 86,000 of the 9 million health card holders, 16 and older, who are not registered organ and tissue donors live in Greater Sudbury.

To register as an organ donor or check your status go to www.Beadonor.ca.