NEWS RELEASE
Embargoed until August 1
Contact: [Insert Local Contact]
[Local agency or state team] Looks to Increase the Number of Registered Minority
Organ Donors During National Minority Donor Awareness Week
[Local agency or state team] celebrates August 1_7 as National Minority Donor
Awareness Week. The nationwide observance aims to educate minorities of the
desperate need for organ, eye and tissue donors within multicultural communities. The
observance encourages people from all racial and ethnic groups to become donors by
registering at [Insert state registry]. It also draws special attention to minorities, who
make up 56 percent of the nearly 120,000 men, women and children on the national
organ transplant waiting list.
“My doctor gave me hope when he told me a tissue transplant could repair my ACL,”
says Bernardo Anor, major league soccer player for the Columbus Crew. “Thanks to a
donor, I was able to have the surgery and get back to playing the game I love.”
Fortunately for Bernardo, the wait for tissue transplants is short, unlike the wait for
organ transplants. Minorities are disproportionately affected by illnesses, like
hypertension and diabetes, which can lead to end-stage renal disease and the need for
dialysis or a kidney transplant, contributing to the higher number of minority patients on
the national organ transplant waiting list. This makes the need for more donors from
ethnic minority groups critical. In 2012, 11,309 minority patients received organ
transplants; while there were 2,762 minority deceased donors and 1,711 minority living
donors. The wait is long and, sadly, 18 people die everyday because the transplant
they so desperately needed did not come in time.co
This month, activities coordinated for National Minority Donor Awareness Week will
specially focus on increasing the number of designated donors in multicultural
communities nationwide. [insert local examples]
The public is encouraged to attend these exciting events and help spread the word
about the lifesaving power of donation.
To register as a donor or for more information about how to get involved please visit
www.donatelife.net [or insert local info] or call [insert local phone number].
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