Help UK Beat UofL in the 2011 “Gift of Life” Challenge

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 4, 2011) — The state rivalry heats up again for the 12th annual "Gift of Life" Challenge as the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville compete for the greatest number of newly registered Kentucky residents on the Kentucky Organ Donor Registry. The winning school receives a trophy at the men's basketball game on Dec. 31 at Rupp Arena.

"This is a friendly competition for a really wonderful cause," said Dr. Andrew Bernard, UK HealthCare chief of trauma surgery. "When we register to be organ donors, the winners are really the hundreds of children and adults in Kentucky waiting for a life-saving transplant, and the ability to make a positive and lasting impact in the lives of others."

This competition has the opportunity to help the more than 750 Kentucky patients registered on the United States organ transplant waiting list. Tragically, every 11 minutes another patient is added to the waiting list while 18 people die each day due to the lack of organ donors. In 2010, 89 organs were transplanted from 30 organ donors at UK HealthCare alone.

"I am so thankful for the organ donor program, and so grateful to my donor family," said Wanda Craig, a 68-year-old UK HealthCare patient and bilateral lung donor recipient. "I encourage everyone to sign up to be an organ donor." Craig received her lung transplant on April 30, 2011.

Register online today at www.donatelifeky.org to save lives through organ donation. Then, click on the drop-down box and credit UK by selecting "2011 Gift of Life Challenge - UK Fan."  The 2011 “Gift of Life” Challenge competition lasts through Dec. 15.

MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Meador (859) 323-2395 or Julie.Meador@uky.edu