Give Blood in Honor of National Donor Day

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Most celebrate February 14th as Valentine’s Day with chocolates, roses, and cards. But for those in the transplant community, it is known as National Donor Day, when we celebrate and honor our past and current donors and welcome new ones. It is a day to educate and inspire others to make the lifesaving decision to become an organ, eye, and tissue donor. Over 106,000 children and adults in the United States are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant; 17 of these people will die today due to the drastic shortage of registered donors.

The Chris Klug Foundation (CKF) is tackling the wait for a transplant this National Donor Day by hosting their #GiveLoveGiveBlood Campaign, which aims to start the registration conversation with a blood donation. Donating blood is a simple and easy way to save lives. Each donation saves three lives!

Approximately 4.5 million individuals will need a blood transfusion in 2023, and only 3% of Americans donate each year. This alarming gap illustrates why it is so important that more individuals sign up. CKF hopes that by donating blood, individuals will see how easy it is to become a donor and be inspired to say yes to donation, whether it is tissue, such as blood, or organ donation. Becoming an organ donor is as simple as saying yes at the DMV when you receive or renew your license or by going online to the CKF website. By saying yes, you are giving permission for doctors to recover the viable organs and tissues when you pass away and transplant them into individuals on the transplant waitlist.

If you want to show your support for organ, eye, and tissue donation, register to donate blood as part of this year’s National Donor Day Give Love Give Blood Campaign. CKF is teaming up with Colorado Children’s Hospital to host a blood drive at the Anschutz Campus and with Red Cross and Vitalant to host virtual blood drives across the country. Anyone can donate anywhere! Even if you are a registered organ donor, CKF encourages you to show your support by donating blood. Your decision can inspire those in your community to consider becoming a donor. Head to https://www.chrisklugfoundation.org/national-donor-day to join, and be a lifesaver today.

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The Chris Klug Foundation was founded in 2003 by liver transplant recipient and Olympic Medalist Chris Klug. The foundation aims to eliminate the wait for a transplant by inspiring and educating individuals to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors. Learn more about CKF and its mission by heading to 

www.chrisklugfoundation.org.

Chris Klug
National Donor Day