On August 1, West Virginians across the Mountain State will celebrate West Virginia Donor Day, an annual observance recognizing organ, eye and tissue donors while encouraging more residents to register as donors. The date, 8/1, serves as a powerful reminder that one organ donor can save up to eight lives.
Today, 327 West Virginians are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, yet only 36% of West Virginians are registered organ donors, well below the national average of approximately 60%. Nationwide, more than 109,500 people are waiting for a transplant.
West Virginia continues to lead the nation in making donor registration more accessible. This year, residents gained a new opportunity to register as organ, eye and tissue donors while registering to vote or updating their voter registration information through a partnership between the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office and CORE, the Center for Organ Recovery & Education. The initiative makes West Virginia just the second state in the nation to offer donor registration through the voter registration process. Since the law took effect in June, approximately 250 West Virginians have already registered as donors through the new option.
The voter registration option builds on West Virginia’s existing donor registration opportunities through the DMV and the state’s hunting and fishing licensing system, continuing the state’s commitment to making lifesaving decisions easier for residents.
This year’s observance also introduces CORE’s first-ever “Ducking for Donor Day” campaign. Inspired by the popular random act of kindness trend, thousands of small green rubber ducks with donor registration information and QR codes will appear in businesses, hospitals, parks and community gathering places throughout West Virginia. Anyone who discovers a duck is encouraged to keep it, pass it along to someone else or scan the attached QR code to learn more about donation and register as an organ donor.
The celebration begins Friday, July 31, with WV Donor Day Eve at the West Virginia Black Bears game. Fans can visit CORE’s donor registration table beginning at 6 p.m. at Kendrick Family Ballpark (2040 Gyorko Dr., Granville, WV 26534) to learn about organ donation, register as donors and pick up West Virginia Donor Day materials.
On Saturday, August 1, West Virginia Donor Day celebrations continue across the state.
GoMart is once again partnering with CORE and Donate Life West Virginia to encourage donor registration. Individuals who register as new organ, eye and tissue donors at the following participating GoMart locations on August 1 will receive a $10 GoMart gift card, while supplies last:
· Flatwoods (Sutton) 4247 Sutton Lane, Sutton, WV 9 a.m. to noon
· Bridgeport 1525 Johnson Ave., Bridgeport, WV 26330 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
· Summersville 602 Shamrock St., Summersville, WV 26651 1 to 5 p.m.
· Jane Lew 28 Court St., Jane Lew, WV 26378 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
CORE will also host an information table at Capitol Market (800 Smith St., Charleston, WV 25301) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where community members can learn about donation, ask questions and register as organ, eye and tissue donors.
Media are welcome to attend any of these events. Interviews with donor families, living donors, transplant recipients and CORE representatives can be arranged upon request.
West Virginians can register as organ, eye and tissue donors by:
· Visiting RegisterMe.org/WV
· Purchasing a hunting or fishing license
· Registering or updating their voter registration information
To learn more about West Virginia Donor Day, visit Donate Life West Virginia or follow @COREDonateLife and @DonateLifeWV on social media.
