When you go to renew your driver’s license, do you say “yes” to becoming an organ donor?

It’s a hard truth to face.  Saying “yes” to that question means considering the idea that someday, something tragic might happen that could end your time in this world.  No one likes thinking about that.

But, in the end, you and I know that life is precious and fragile.  The one thing that we all have in common is that no one, not you or I or anyone else, can take anything from this world with us when we leave it.

A Good Excuse to Run

If you’ve been reading for a while, you know I like to run.  From working on projects like TweetMyTime to completing my first full marathon last year, running has become both a mental and physical release for me.

So when Rachel Lewis and Heather Blausey met with me over coffee and asked me to get involved with LifeLine of Ohio’s Dash for Donation, I jumped at the chance.  What better way to train, than to train for a race with a great cause attached?

Dash for Donation needs your eyeballs.  The race takes place in Columbus on July 10th, 2010, with a start time of 7 a.m. It features a 1/2 marathon run, a 5K run/walk, a 1K fun walk and a kids and mascots dash (that’s a short run for children 6 & under, which should be a pretty cute photo opportunity for parents).

I’m doing the half, and I’d LOVE for you to run with me (in any capacity).  If you are up for it, you can register HERE.

Need Some Motivation?  Look at These Numbers

In the interest of full disclosure, I lifted these stats from the Lifeline of Ohio blog.

(On a side note, Lifeline of Ohio is doing excellent work in using social media tools like Facebook to support their cause.  It’s a a solid case study example for all of you non-profit readers.)

The following statistics come from a random statewide telephone survey of 2,012 Ohio adults, conducted in January 2010, via Lifeline of Ohio, on behalf of Donate Life Ohio, and the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati.  The numbers are staggering.

The results of the survey offer some insight into what prevents Ohioans from taking the steps to register as donors:

• 31% of Ohioans who said they did not want to donate organs, eyes or tissue after death said they didn’t think their organs would be useful, feeling that they were too old to donate or had health concerns that precluded them from donating.
• 66% of those surveyed said they have registered as organ, eye and tissue donors on their driver license – indicating that some Ohioans falsely believe they are registered donors.

The study also revealed that the common myths about organ and tissue donation are still prevalent:

• 28% of those polled believe that doctors are more interested in obtaining organs, than saving lives of organ donors.  This is the most common myth that prevents individuals from registering as donors. (The truth is that an individual’s status as a donor is only considered after everything has been done to save his/her life, and death has been declared.)
• 9% of those surveyed do not believe that an open casket funeral is possible after donation.  In fact, if an open casket was possible before donation, it will still be possible after donation.
• 6% of respondents believe that organ donation is against their religion.  Contrarily, all major religions in the U.S. support donation.
• While 31% of Ohioans who said they do not want to be donors think they are too old or unhealthy to donate, age and health are not prohibiting factors to donation.  The oldest donor (to date) was 92 and saved a life by donating a liver.  Individuals that have lived with diseases, like cancer and heart disease, have still given the “Gift of Life” after death.

[End Research Study]

Kind of disheartening, wouldn’t you agree?  I personally think that some of the reasoning behind folks not signing up for organ donation is a bit absurd, and maybe the result of a lack of education and understanding as to the intent.

Here’s a link to some facts and information on how organ donation actually works, how you can become a donor and three different ways to sign up.  Knowledge is the first step towards any change.

Ways You Can Help

So what do you think?  Will you help me raise awareness for Lifeline of Ohio and organ donation?

Would you please share this post with your network by ReTweeting it?  You don’t have to be an Ohioan to do this.

You might even share it with your Facebook friends.  It’s for a good cause.  Here’s a tip: for a little extra reach on Facebook, hit a status update between 7 p.m. and midnight.  Evenings are when the activity is highest there, because most of us like socializing at the end of the day.

If you are an Ohioan, we can be on the same team.  Would you consider taking the run with me?

nateriggs

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