CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Saturday is the annual West Virginia Donor Day.
The day is an annual tradition that encourages Mountain State residents to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors. The date, August 1, was intentionally chosen to remind everyone that one organ donor can save up to eight lives.
According to the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE), only 36 percent of West Virginians have registered to become organ donors, which is significantly lower than the national average at around 60 percent.
CORE reported that 327 West Virginians are currently waiting on a life-saving organ transplant, and over 109,500 individuals across the country are in need of a transplant.
There are plenty of ways to register. Residents could register as organ, eye, and tissue donors while updating their voter registration information this year. That was made possible by a law forged in a partnership between CORE and West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office.
West Virginia became the second state in the United States to offer the option to register as an organ donor during voter registration. An estimated 250 people have registered as donors since the law took effect in June. Additionally, people can register as donors through the DMV and the state’s hunting and fishing system.
CORE will hold a “Ducking for Donor Day” campaign for the first time ever during this year’s recognition. Thousands of small green rubber ducks have been distributed to businesses, hospitals, parks and community-gathering places throughout the Mountain State. On those ducks are donor registration information and QR codes.
Those who find those ducks can keep them, pass them along to another person, or scan the QR code to learn more.
This year’s celebration began Friday with West Virginia Donor Day Eve in Monongalia County. CORE had a donor registration table set up at the West Virginia Black Bears game at Kendrick Family Ballpark, distributing materials and encouraging more people to sign up. Along with that, CORE also held a five-hour table at the Morgantown Regional DMV to expand education and speak to people about the need for more organ donors.
Following the Donor Day Eve festivities, the official Donor Day includes recognitions across the state, all highlighting the importance of signing up as an organ donor to help save lives.