Sign up to be an organ donor

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This article was published 08/04/2019 (2386 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For one week, every April, National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week (NOTDAW) is celebrated across the country. This year it runs in the week of April 21 to 27. 

This week is dedicated to organ and tissue donation and promoting awareness of the dire need for organ donors. 

Here in Manitoba the amount of people registered to be an organ donor is just over 34,000 people registered at signupforlife.ca. 

At the moment, approximately 4,400 Canadians are waiting for life-saving organ transplants. The horrible reality is that on average 250 people a year will die waiting for organs. That is why it is important to spread the word and let everyone know the importance of being an organ donor.

Haven’t become an organ donor yet? 

Then it’s really simple. Go to signupforlife.ca and register. This is the online registry for people in Manitoba who want to be organ and tissue donors after death. It only takes a few minutes and all you need is your health card. 

You may already be registered as an organ donor on a blue card that you have been carrying around in your purses or wallets. But those are no longer being used. The best way to guarantee your intent to be a donor is to register online. This way your family knows exactly what your wishes are. 

Last year, in a terrible tragedy, a young man named Logan Boulet lost his life in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. He had previously let his family know that he wanted to be an organ donor if the time came. After the tragedy, his parents honoured his wishes. 

This started something amazing. People began to sign up to become organ donors, as well. Everyone was inspired by what Logan had done and the phenomenon has become known as the Logan Boulet Effect. Last April, over 100,000 Canadians registered to be organ donors. 

This year Logan’s family wanted to extend the awareness and generosity created by their son so they started the Green Shirt Day initiative in Logan’s honour. Green was chosen as it represents new life.

Green Shirt Day took place just recently, on April 7. 

Logan Boulet gave six people new life with his organs and become a true hero. You can be a hero too. Just go to signupforlife.ca and register. 

Jennifer Laferriere is a community correspondent for Garden City. 

Jennifer Laferriere
Garden City community correspondent

Jennifer Laferriere was a community correspondent for Garden City.

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