Walk And Talk About Organ Donation

Press Release
September 24, 2009

Walk And Talk About Organ Donation!

Organ donor families, transplant recipients, celebrities, police and local dignitaries will walk up Mount Maunganui on October 4 to commemorate World Day of Organ Donation and Transplantation and raise awareness for organ donation in New Zealand.

Together the group will leave from the Mount Maunganui Surf Living Saving Club at 10am and walk up The Mount, congregating at the peak to remember donors and their families who have given the gift of life. There is also the option to walk around The Mount.

The purpose of the walk is to raise awareness for organ donation in New Zealand and encourage people to have a conversation with their loved ones about their wishes, should they be faced with a situation where donation is possible.

Organ donation can only happen in less than 1% of all deaths. It is only possible when a person is on a ventilator in an intensive care unit and has fatal brain damage.

There is no age limit for becoming a donor. You can still donate even if you’re a smoker or you drink alcohol. There are very few illnesses that would prevent you from donating.

Organ Donation New Zealand, New Zealand’s official donor agency, encourage people to visit their website www.donor.co.nz to find out more about organ donation or phone them on
0800 4 DONOR.

A celebration of the World Day of Organ Donation/European Day of Organ Donation will also take place on October 4 in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. This marks the opening of the 2009 Organ Donation Congress.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the walk up Mount Maunganui and there are free
t-shirts available for those who attend. Register your interest at www.donor.co.nz

ENDS

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