UK HealthCare Celebrates Donate Life Month and New License Plate Promoting Organ Donation

LEXINGTON, KY. (March 31, 2015) — UK HealthCare will kick off National Donate Life Month April 1 with a special flag-raising ceremony in front of the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital.

Staff and public are invited to the ceremony at the hospital’s flag pole at 10:30 a.m., where a Donate Life flag will be raised, followed by a brief reception in the Pavilion H lobby. The flag will fly 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to demonstrate UK HealthCare’s commitment to saving lives through donation and transplantation.

Additionally, Donate Life will have a registry table in the lobby from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to sign up new donors.

National Donate Life Month is an annual month-long celebration that showcases those touched by donation and transplantation. This year, a new Donation Awareness license plate will be launched April 1.  The plate will be on display at the reception.

Approximately half of the U.S. adult population is registered as donors, including 1.5 million Kentuckians. Still, the number of people in need of transplants continues to outpace the number of donor organs. On average, 21 people die each day because the organs they need are not donated in time.

Registering to become a donor is the most effective way to ensure you can save lives through donation and serves as a sign of hope to those who continue to wait. Everyone can register as a donor today at www.donatelifeky.org or by saying “YES” when you renew your driver’s license.

Additionally, you can show your support for this mission is by purchasing a Donate Life license plate to spread the message about donation. The Donate Life plate encourages individuals to put the gift of donation into perspective, stating ‘Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation Saves Lives’.  This statement illustrates the power of what a simple “YES” at the driver’s license office has the ability to do.

To purchase your special Donate Life plate, visit your County Clerk’s office on or after April 1, 2015.  Special thanks to everyone who made this plate possible including:  UK HealthCare, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates, and Kentucky Circuit Clerks’ Trust for Life.