SOUTHWICK – Seven flags were raised in support of Donate Life Month this week
The white flags with the blue and green logo are flying at Southwick Town Hall, the police and fire departments, Southwick Common, The American Inn, Southwick Funeral Home and the Southwick Public Library.
A group of people gathered at Town Hall Monday to celebrate the gift of life, including Southwick resident Susan Sanders.
Sanders received the gift of a donated heart in 2008 after living with a heart condition for many years. Because she is so grateful for her life, Sanders is determined to honor donors and their families and raise awareness of Donate Life Month.
“I am always so hopeful that as people drive through our beautiful town and see the Donate Life flags flying from our flag poles that they will look at those flags and if they haven’t already, consider becoming an organ/tissue donor,” Sanders said.
Sanders told the crowd that right now, 124,000 people in the United States are waiting for a life saving transplant.
“To put that into perspective, Fenway Park holds 97.473 people,” she said.
Sanders waited seven months to receive her new heart, which she said is a relatively short time.
“Every day 21 people die waiting, simply because their gift of life did not come in time,” Sanders said.
Sanders said nationally, every 10 minutes another name is added to the organ transplant list, and in 2013, over one million tissue transplants and nearly 29,000 organ transplants were performed in the U.S.
“One donor has the power to save and enhance the lives of over 50 people,” she said.
Westfield will also raise the Donate Life flag Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Westfield City Hall. Donate Life Month will be celebrated with a “Wear Green and Blue” day April 17. Donor registration drives will be held April 17 at Baystate Medical Center and April 27 at Mercy Medical Center. Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Conn. will also host a donor registry on April 22. There will also be the Second Annual Blue & Green USATF Certified 5K Walk/Run in Windsor, Conn. on May 2.
More information on organ and tissue donation can be found at donatelife.net.
