NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH -WATERVILLE, NY - LOCAL MICKEY MANTLE LOOK A LIKE HITS THE ROAD FOR ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS MONTH

Source: NBC WKTC News

By GARY LIBERATORE

Story Created: Mar 26, 2010 at 4:33 PM EDT

WATERVILLE, N.Y. (WKTV) - Don Brown of Waterville is mistaken for New York Yankee legend Mickey Mantle everywhere he goes. And because of that, he is using his likeness to promote a cause close to his heart, organ donation.

Mantle died of liver disease in 1995, waiting for a second liver transplant. Brown grew up idolizing Mantle, but he too, also has his own personal connection to organ donation.

"My brother was on kidney dialysis, and I lost him," Brown said. "In the process of trying to donate one of my kidneys, we lost him to cancer."

Brown hits the road every April, during organ donation awareness month, driving along in his 2004 Thunderbird that's been impeccably detailed to honor the Yankee great. Brown attends numerous organ donation awareness events across the country.

"I tell everyone that being an organ donor is a win/win humanitarian act," he said. "So when's the time? The time is now to sign up on the register to be an organ donor."

Brown said he hears heartwarming stories wherever he goes.

"A lady came up to me at The Elk's Lodge and hugged me and said 'I wish I could do what you're doing, my daughter received a kidney three years ago and now we have a granddaughter, thanks for being an organ donor,'" Brown recalled.

Brown, his wife, and his car will all be on hand at Club Monarch in Yorkville Friday night for a fundraising event. The money from a night of live entertainment featuring "The Blues Brothers" will be used to help pay Brown's travel expenses to promote organ donation awareness.