East Hartford Raises Flag in Recognition of Donate Life Month
(April 1, 2020) East Hartford, CT— The Town of East Hartford kicked off National Donate Life Month by raising the Donate Life Flag this morning. The flag will fly at the Town Hall through April in order to raise awareness of the critical need for organ donors.
This April marks the 17th annual National Donate Life Month, a celebration commemorating those who have given the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. For those whose lives have been saved or healed by a transplant, National Donate Life Month provides a chance to share their story to encourage more people to register as donors.
In addition to organ donation, tissue donations help over one million individuals each year. Heart valve, bone and skin donations give recipients a new chance at a healthy life, the recovery of tendons and ligaments can help heal a severe sports injury, and cornea donations give the gift of sight.
“Organ and tissue donation can give hundreds of men, women and children in our community and across the nation a new chance at a healthy and prolonged life,” said Mayor Marcia Leclerc. “The Town of East Hartford wants to drive that point home with this symbolic flag.”
Currently, 58 percent of the U.S. adult population are registered organ and tissue donors, yet the number of people in need of transplants continues to outpace the number of organs donated.
Nearly 113,000 people are waiting for a transplant and a second chance at life. On average, 22 people die each day because the organ they need is not donated in time. That is almost one person dying every hour. Registering your decision to become a donor is the most effective way to save lives through donation and is a sign of support to those who continue to wait.
There are a number of ways to become an organ donor. The easiest way is to indicate it on your drivers’ license when you renew it at the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicle. For additional ways to register as an organ donor please visit registerme.org.