Organ donor group reaching out to Oakvillians - Canada

Inside Halton
A group of local residents and politicians is challenging Oakvillians to be organ donors and save lives.

The group, which includes organ donation recipient Jennifer Malabar, Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, Ward 2 Councillor Pam Damoff and Julie Pehar, whose family faced the painful decision to donate the organs of a loved one; last week announced the launch of the ‘Oakville Be a Donor’ campaign.

“As someone who has benefitted from the generosity of my husband’s donation of his kidney, my life has been forever changed because of organ donation,” said Malabar.

“Statistics show most people have no issue with organ donation, they just haven’t gotten around to registering. We want to raise awareness and make it easy for people to register.”

Damoff said for many people, it is difficult to talk to their loved ones about their wishes concerning organ donation, which is something she hopes the group can change.

“Organ donation saves lives — it is that simple,” she said. “The more we talk about it, the more people will register.”

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{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}