WCTF.org Transplant News

More than 2,000,000 Minnesotans have designated their wishes to donate on their driver's license or ID card.

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When Minnesotans apply for or renew their driver's license or state identification card they are presented with the opportunity to check the box designating themselves organ and tissue donors. Currently, more than 2 million Minnesotans have taken that important step and said yes to the life-saving gift of donation.

While a record number of Minnesotans have designated themselves donors there remains a disparity between the number of donors and the number of people in need of transplantation. Approximately 98,000 Americans are waiting for a life-saving transplant and sadly, each day 18 of those people die waiting simply because there are not enough people saying yes to donation.

April is National Donate Life Month, an officially sanctioned month set aside to celebrate the gifts of donation and promote community events that highlight the critical shortage of organs and tissues for transplantation.

"We often hear individuals say they support donation, but simply haven't taken the time to designate their wishes," says Susan Gunderson, LifeSource CEO. "April is an important time for LifeSource and our volunteers to reach out to the community and encourage individuals to take the critically important step of making their donation wishes known and ensuring more lives will be saved."

Please join LifeSource during National Donate Life Month to celebrate the life-saving gifts of transplantation by taking the steps to donate life. To make the commitment to extend the gift of life through donation, check the box on your drivers' license or register online at http://www.donatelifemn.org/ and share your wishes with your family.

LifeSource is the non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation in the Upper Midwest. The LifeSource service area covers Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and portions of western Wisconsin.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: LifeSource

CONTACT: Susan Mau Larson of LifeSource, +1-651-603-7852,
smlarson@life-source.org

Web Site:

http://www.donatelifemn.org/
http://www.life-source.org/

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Profile: Transplant News