Teen honored for promoting organ donation
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
FULLERTON – The Fullerton City Council recognized Sunny Hills High School junior Hannah Choe, 15, for her efforts to promote organ donation.
Choe started a Donate Life Club at her school last year.
"We have some community service events," she said. "Donate Life has a Rose Parade Float; we volunteer and help with flowers. The last Saturday of April we have a Donate Life walk at Cal State Fullerton to raise awareness. Last year we had 8,000 people come and 150 volunteers."
It started with only a few members, but now has 40.
The walk is sponsored by the larger Donate Life organization, which encourages people to become organ donors. Under a new law in California, telling the Department of Motor Vehicles that you want to be an organ donor is legally binding, said Hannah Choe's mother Jennifer Choe, an ambassador for the Donate Life organization.
Before, family members could refuse to donate even if the deceased indicated he or she wanted to be an organ donor.
It's been four years since Hannah Choe's 5-year-old sister, Erin, died in a drowning accident. The Choe family donated tissue from Erin's eyes, tissue that allowed two other people to be able to see, Jennifer Choe said.
The family has been deeply involved in the organization ever since.
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