Mayor Designates April as Donate Life Month in Medford
Mayor Michael McGlynn issued a proclamation on Monday, April 1, 2013 that designates April as “Donate Life Month” in support of organ and tissue donation.
New England Organ Bank celebrates this April as the 10th annual National Donate Life Month. The celebration commemorates those who have received or continue to wait for lifesaving transplants as well as the families of individuals who chose to be donors. In 2012 over 640 lives were saved here in New England because of the generosity of individuals who became organ donors. Thousands more lives were enhanced through the gift of tissue donation. With the need for life-saving transplants growing every day – over 117,000 patients are now on the US transplant wait list – it is crucial to educate our communities about taking action to register as donors.
While increasing the number of registered organ and tissue donors that save and heal lives is part of our daily work,? says Matt Boger, State Relations for New England Organ Bank, ?this month serves, not only to honor the lives of those who have given and received, it is also an opportunity to renew our commitment to saving lives.
Mike Slama, a heart recipient, and Connie Murphy, great uncle of a heart recipient, will be on hand to thank the Mayor.
There are now 110 million registered donors in the United States; still, the number of people in need of transplants continues to rise. The solution to this problem is to continue educating the public about the lifesaving effects of donation and transplantation and encouraging them to sign up through their state donor registry.
National Donate Life Month is an opportunity to continue our education efforts, celebrate the lives saved and enhanced through donation and honor the donors who made the ultimate gift. You can celebrate this special time by discussing organ and tissue donation with friends and family, encourage others to join the registry and help raise awareness by visiting the Donate Life New England Facebook and Twitter pages. You have the power to donate life.
To register to be a donor or for more information visit www.DonateLifeNewEngland.org.
Pictured above: Connie Murphy, Mayor McGlynn, Matthew Boger, and Michael Slama.
– Information and photo from City of Medford