Memorial bike ride encourages people to donate organs/tissue
EMC News - Giving the gift of life is as easy as signing your donor registration form and Greg Davis hopes everyone will fill one out.
Greg Davis is the brother of the late Canadian Olympic swimming champion Victor Davis, and for the second year in a row, is pedaling his way on the Victor Davis Memorial Bike Ride.
At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Victor won a gold medal in the 200m breaststroke, silver medal in the 100m breaststroke and silver on the 4x100m medley relay team. At the 1988 Seoul Games he also won a silver medal in the 4x100 medley relay event.
Last year marked the 20th anniversary since Victor was killed after a hit and run car accident in Montreal and his organs were donated, helping to give the gift of life.
Greg wanted to ride again this year after last year was a record for signing people up to register to donate. Organ/tissue donors will help save eight lives and enhance the lives of 75 people, according to Davis.
He started his ride in Guelph July 28 and on Thursday, Aug. 5 the Ontario East Transplant Support Group hosted a dinner for him at Kristy's Restaurant in Bells Corners. He will finish his ride at the Canadian Transplant Games in Quebec City Aug. 9, where he says he will be honoured to present medals in the 5km and 30km cycling events.
"What a great celebration of life that is to be a recipient and to live as healthy a life style as possible. I personally can think of no better thanks or tribute to give to your organ donors and families then to do some Olympic oriented events like this," said Greg. "It doesn't matter if you finish dead last, the fact that you are actually trying and living life to the absolute fullest. I know that is going to be a pretty weepy and teary thing for me because I'm a bit of a softy."
With a large smile on his face he describes how three people during his ride (today) signed up to donate their organs, a sign he is making a difference. He explains how in the last two years the process to donate organs has changed, before people could sign the forms with their driver's license, now it needs to be done through your health card. Even if you originally signed up with your license it does not apply.
Greg says he has not met one person who does not want to sign up although he admits there are some misconceptions about signing up.
"I think maybe people are worried about their own morality. It doesn't bother me but
maybe that is part of it. People have to confront that they may have to die some day, like confronting writing a will," he said. "It's so easy to register. It doesn't cost you anything and you are not going to need them if God forbid something happens, that will be the least of your problems."
Rita Richardson, president of the Ontario East Transplant Support Group, wanted to host the dinner to be able to thank Greg for what he is doing. Part of their mission is to give support to other and the second part is to let the public know about the need for organ and tissue donation. She thinks what Greg is doing is fantastic and is really pleased that he is making the trip.
"It certainly is making a difference for the people who are fortunate enough to get out and see him in person," said Richardson. "It is also creating media coverage that will reach people that normally wouldn't know about organ and tissue donations and the need for it."
For Richardson it certainly hits home as her husband Denis received a heart transplant 18 years ago and they both have been speaking about organ donation
Greg Davis is the brother of the late Canadian Olympic swimming champion Victor Davis, and for the second year in a row, is pedaling his way on the Victor Davis Memorial Bike Ride.
At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Victor won a gold medal in the 200m breaststroke, silver medal in the 100m breaststroke and silver on the 4x100m medley relay team. At the 1988 Seoul Games he also won a silver medal in the 4x100 medley relay event.
Last year marked the 20th anniversary since Victor was killed after a hit and run car accident in Montreal and his organs were donated, helping to give the gift of life.
Greg wanted to ride again this year after last year was a record for signing people up to register to donate. Organ/tissue donors will help save eight lives and enhance the lives of 75 people, according to Davis.
He started his ride in Guelph July 28 and on Thursday, Aug. 5 the Ontario East Transplant Support Group hosted a dinner for him at Kristy's Restaurant in Bells Corners. He will finish his ride at the Canadian Transplant Games in Quebec City Aug. 9, where he says he will be honoured to present medals in the 5km and 30km cycling events.
"What a great celebration of life that is to be a recipient and to live as healthy a life style as possible. I personally can think of no better thanks or tribute to give to your organ donors and families then to do some Olympic oriented events like this," said Greg. "It doesn't matter if you finish dead last, the fact that you are actually trying and living life to the absolute fullest. I know that is going to be a pretty weepy and teary thing for me because I'm a bit of a softy."
With a large smile on his face he describes how three people during his ride (today) signed up to donate their organs, a sign he is making a difference. He explains how in the last two years the process to donate organs has changed, before people could sign the forms with their driver's license, now it needs to be done through your health card. Even if you originally signed up with your license it does not apply.
Greg says he has not met one person who does not want to sign up although he admits there are some misconceptions about signing up.
"I think maybe people are worried about their own morality. It doesn't bother me but
maybe that is part of it. People have to confront that they may have to die some day, like confronting writing a will," he said. "It's so easy to register. It doesn't cost you anything and you are not going to need them if God forbid something happens, that will be the least of your problems."
Rita Richardson, president of the Ontario East Transplant Support Group, wanted to host the dinner to be able to thank Greg for what he is doing. Part of their mission is to give support to other and the second part is to let the public know about the need for organ and tissue donation. She thinks what Greg is doing is fantastic and is really pleased that he is making the trip.
"It certainly is making a difference for the people who are fortunate enough to get out and see him in person," said Richardson. "It is also creating media coverage that will reach people that normally wouldn't know about organ and tissue donations and the need for it."
For Richardson it certainly hits home as her husband Denis received a heart transplant 18 years ago and they both have been speaking about organ donation
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