Three Ways to Advance Organ Donation this Month

There are still several ways in April—National Donate Life Month—to show your support for organ, eye and tissue donation.

Two events will take place at URMC on Friday: "Giving and Receiving the Gift of Life: The Full Circle of Caring," a noontime celebration honoring donors, recipients and staff—plus National Donate Life Blue and Green Day, which invites folks to support organ donation by wearing blue or green.

On Sunday, April 21, Friends of Strong will hold the Rochester River Run/Walk 5K at 10 a.m. to raise funds for donor and recipient families.

Friday’s Lunchtime “Gift of Life” Talk

Personal experiences will be shared by SMH doctors and nurses, FLDRN team members, as well as donor family members and recipients at “Giving and Receiving the Gift of Life: The Full Circle of Caring” from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, in the Class of ’62 auditorium. Box lunches and drinks will be provided.

Make a (Fashion) Statement

Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network invites everyone to show their support for donation and transplantation by wearing blue and green—the colors signifying transplantation and organ donation. If you and your colleagues would like to show off your colors, just snap a photo and post it to the FLDRN Facebook page.

Walk or Run for the Cause

The 12th annual Friends of Strong Rochester River Run/Walk 5Kwill begin at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Roundhouse Shelter at Genesee Valley Park. Prior to the race at 9:30 a.m., a ceremony will be held recognizing the sacrifices made—and the many challenges facing—donors, recipients and donor families alike.

As more patients receive organs here at Strong Memorial—including heart, liver pancreas and kidney transplants—many need financial assistance, both as they await operations and after transplant. Former patients also make the trip back to Rochester for follow-up care, swelling the ranks of individuals needing help. All money raised through the Rochester River Run/Walk goes to support these transplant patients and families.

Online credit card registration is available for the race at signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/90310/SMUCalendar. Prizes for racers include round-trip Delta Airlines tickets and cash gifts.The fee to walk or run is $25 per person and includes a long-sleeved T-shirt for the first 300 registrants. For more information or to register, visit Sign Me Up or call Friends of Strong at (585) 275-2420.

Matt Ulakovic | 4/17/2013

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