Event held in 10 cities to recognize National Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness Week in Ontario

April 26, 2006

Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) and The Kidney Foundation of Canada, working in partnership with local volunteer groups formed a living green ribbon today in recognition of National Organ and Tissue Awareness Week in Ontario.

"The living green ribbon event is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation in places like Thunder Bay," said Frank Markel, President and CEO of the Trillium Gift of Life Network. "We know that right at this moment there are 20 people waiting for an organ in this community and we know that 39 have donated from this community in the past. We hope this event today will help people think about organ and tissue donation, talk to their families about their wishes and sign their donor cards."

Participants wearing green ponchos joined together and formed the Living Green Ribbons at Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre at 10:30 this morning. The Living Green Ribbon was formed with 200 volunteers from the Community and many supporters from TBRHSC! Living Green Ribbon events also took place in Ottawa, London, Kitchener, Chatham, Hamilton, Sarnia, Kingston, Windsor, and Toronto.

"This is a great day for Thunder Bay" said Jim Hunter, Chairman of the local chapter of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. "The impressive turnout shows that our community has tremendous support for organ and tissue donation in Ontario. We are going to continue to remind people to tell their friends and their families to sign their donor cards and to have the conversation with their loved ones - it can save someone's life."

Today in Ontario, 1758 patients are on the transplant waiting list. Of those, 1097 are men, 661 are women and 43 of those patients are children.

"National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week is a 7 day event held annually to promote the importance of organ and tissue donation," said Markel. "Events like this one today celebrate the efforts of volunteers, the generosity of donors and the lives of those who have been given the gift of life. If you want to find out about more events that are taking place this week, please visit www.giftoflife.on.ca.

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