April is National Donate Life Month – YouTube Link
April, — 2022 (Durham, NC) – Yvette is a volunteer and a bus driver, Scott is a video production professional, Sandra is a minister and professor, Kacey is a Columbine shooting survivor and busy mom. These individuals seemingly have little in common but each of their lives has been changed by organ and tissue donation. Yvette is a liver recipient, Sandra’s son was an organ donor, Scott is currently awaiting a life-saving transplant, Kacey is a tissue recipient. Each of these North Carolinians knows intimately the impact of donation and represents a different side of the transplantation story.
National Donate Life Month was established by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003. Observed in April each year, National Donate Life Month helps raise awareness about donation, encourage Americans to Register as a Donor, and honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.
With more than 100,000 people in the United States awaiting a life-saving transplant and more than 3,000 of those here in North Carolina, it’s more important than ever to bring attention to the vital need for people to register as donors. In 2021, more than 41,000 organ transplants from 20,300 donors brought new life to patients and their families. However, still an average of 20 people die each day waiting for that life-saving transplant. Here in North Carolina, only just over 50% of adults are registered donors. One donor can save up to eight lives and heal more than 75 lives through organ and tissue donation. Becoming a registered donor is as simple as saying “yes” at the DMV or registering online at RegisterMe.org/NC.
To bring awareness, education and encourage registration, HonorBridge is celebrating National Donate Life Month with the following events and programs:
Building Lightings – various buildings throughout our services area are lighting with blue and green (the colors of donation) during the month. This includes the Durham Performing Arts Center, Reynolds Building, Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, and others.
Pause To Give Life on Wednesday, April 6 – At 10:08 am, nearly 30 hospitals and funeral home partners across HonorBridge’s service area will honor donors and their families, recipients, and those waiting to “Pause to Give Life”, a Donate Life flag-raising ceremony followed by a moment of silence. The start time symbolizes that one donor can save eight lives.
Blue & Green Day on Friday, April 22 – Celebrate National Donate Life Blue & Green Day by encouraging the public to wear blue and green and to engage in sharing the Donate Life message and promoting the importance of registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.
National Pediatric Transplant Week on April 24-30
