NATIONAL DONATION CAMPUS CHALLENGE -"HOW TO BE A LIONSAVER 101" SET FOR OCTOBER 27, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

"How to Be a Lionsaver 101" Set for Oct. 27

(Posted: October 7, 2009) (Printable Version)

A group of students at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith would like for fellow students and community members to take action after attending “How to Be a Lionsaver 101,” slated for 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 27.

The event, which will be held at the fireplace in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, is designed to bring awareness to organ donation, according to Jonathon Walker of Van Buren, one of the members of the Chancellor’s Leadership Council. He and other CLC students — Caitlyn Sears of Alma and Marchelle Castleberry of Fort Smith — took on the awareness activity as a class project. The project, however, has Walker already making a decision for himself.

“Before we considered this project, I didn’t know the benefits of organ donation,” said Walker. “In a college atmosphere, students are getting out and making their own decisions. We want to give them the chance to make this decision, organ donation, for themselves. I’ve now made that decision myself.”

Walker said Fort Smith Major Ray Baker will kick off the event, which will include free pizza for the first 500. In attendance will be a representative from ARORA (Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency), as well as an individual who works with families of organ donors and a person who has received a transplant.

“He is an organ recipient and has a pretty compelling story,” said Walker. “We hope this will encourage people to sign a pledge card for organ donation. I know I will.”

Individuals who sign pledge cards will receive a free T-shirt, made possible by Cooper Clinic and Coca-Cola Bottling Co.

Those stopping by “How to Be a Lionsaver 101” will have the opportunity to visit with the ARORA representatives and with the organ recipient, eat pizza, drink Cokes and pick up some free items from ARORA. The pledge card can be carried by the person who signs it until time for driver’s license renewal. At that time, the donor’s organ donation decision will be added to the driver’s license.

For more information, contact Walker, by e-mail at jwalke03@uafortsmith.edu or by telephone at 479-353-5532, or Susan Devero in the chancellor’s office, sdevero@uafortsmith.edu or 479-788-752