SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias wants to encourage residents to give the ultimate gift and sign up for organ donation during National Donate Life Month.
“More than 4,000 Illinois residents are currently waiting for a transplant, including many whose lives depend on the availability of a suitable organ,” Giannoulias said. “The month of April presents an opportunity to highlight how someone’s decision to take a moment to sign up will tangibly save lives and why it’s so important to encourage more people to register as donors.”
Currently, 6.5 million people are registered with the state’s donor registry. Approximately 4,000 people are on the transplant waiting list. Of those individuals, about 300 die waiting for a transplant every year. A single donor can save or improve the lives of up to 25 people. To become a donor, you can register with the Secretary of State’s Organ and Tissue Donor Registry by visiting LifeGoesOn.com.