Lions clubs support organ and tissue donations

Josef Amann | Nov 11, 2010

Photo: Left to Right. Zone Links: Celine Pyle, Sharbot Lake; Nancy Butler, Amherstview; Mary Grace Amann, District A-3 Chair Organ and Tissue Donations; Josef Amann, Region 11 Chair

On October 28 in Newburgh, the official unveiling of the Gift of Life Banner Crest for Lion Clubs in District A-3 was held. Twelve of the local area Lions clubs were in attendance for this auspicious occasion.

Did you know that for Organ and Tissue Donations at present only 27% of Ontarians over the age of 16 with OHIP photo ID cards have registered their consent? Canada ranks the lowest of all the countries that have donor programs. Mary Grace Amann, Lion District Chair for Organ and Tissue Donation, says Lions in District A-3 have taken the initiative to change those statistics. Each Lions Club is challenged to have 50 percent or more of their members registered as donors with Trillium, the clubs that attain this will be awarded the Gift of Life Crest for their banner at their convention.

One donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance the lives of 75 others. If you have signed a donor card you still need to register. Check the back of your photo ID Health Card for the word DONOR, if it is not there, you are not registered. Forms, information etc can be obtained by visiting the Trillium Gift of Life Web Site. You can register your consent to donate by visiting your local OHIP office or to download the consent form visit www.giftoflife.on.ca. Make your wish known to your family as they make the final decision.

In Ontario we have 1508 on waiting lists with the largest portion requiring kidney transplants; 767 transplants have taken place this year. One person on this waiting list dies ever three days. Everyone is a potential donor regardless of age. The oldest Canadian organ donor was over 90 and the oldest tissue donor was 102.

Lions Clubs have taken the initiative to make Ontarians more aware of this critical situation and to increase the percentage of donor consents.

For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit the Web site at www.lionsclubs.org.