Every Community Has Opportunity – How You Can Save A Life!
What does ECHO stand for? Every Community Has Opportunity. July is host to the National #DonateLifeECHO campaign.
What does this mean? It is a belief that each message and story can be carried or echoed through a community when someone shares their decision of registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor.
Why is it important? California is the most diverse state in the country, giving us a unique ability to increase multicultural registrations in order to save lives around the nation. Currently, only 32% of donors come from a multicultural background but 58% of those on the waiting list are as well. While not every case requires a match of ethnic backgrounds, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) “successful transplantation often is enhanced by the matching of organs between members of the same ethnic and racial group.”
Signing up as an organ and tissue donor can save not just one but up to eight lives, and change even more. Learn about some of the stories of hope from the #DonateLifeECHO campaign including Christopher, a young man who received a heart transplant that saved his life here.
What can you do to help save lives? The first step to help saves lives is becoming an organ donor yourself! If you’ve already done so, thank you, if you haven’t yet taken this step click here where you can register as organ and tissue donor.
Now that you’ve signed up as a donor, join is with the #DonateLifeECHO campaign where you can multiply your impact to save lives by doing something as simple as letting your friends know you’ve decided to become a donor. Remember, Every Community Has Opportunity to save lives.
Consider sharing a post on social media and use the hashtag #DonateLifeEcho, making a 30-second video and sharing it with your network, or bring in donuts to the office with a note on why they should consider becoming a donor.
As we continue to expand the organ and tissue donor registry in California and around the nation we’ll be able to close the gap and ensure that everyone on the waitlist, no matter their backgrounds, have access to the organs they need.
Find out more about the #DonateLifeEcho at DonateLife.net.
