The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson and UA Health Sciences, in cooperation with Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and South hospitals and clinics, has teamed up with the Donor Network of Arizona, to participate in its annual Health Care for Hope campaign.
Health Care for Hope
Health Care for Hope is a joint effort of more than 50 health care organizations from across the state to educate the public about the gifts of organ and tissue donation, and encourage Arizonans to register as donors. The campaign is held during the month of April, which is celebrated as National Donate Life Month across the country. Banner – UMC Tucson has finished among the top three hospitals registering donors in each of the previous six annual campaigns—including No. 1 in 2015 and No. 2 in 2016.
Today, more than 118,000 people across the United States are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. More than 2,300 live in Arizona. Through the UA Health Sciences, the College of Medicine – Tucson and Banner – UMC’s participation in this campaign, we seek to give hope to all those who are waiting for the gift of life while honoring those gifts so selflessly given by donors and their families.
Of people on waiting lists for organ transplants, nearly 82 percent are for kidneys, 11.4 percent for livers, 3.2 percent for hearts, 1.1 percent for lungs and 2.5 percent for other, according to OPTN Data Reports. Nearly 42 percent of folks on the list are Caucasian, 29.7 percent African American, 19 percent Hispanic, 7.5 percent Asian and 2.2 percent other. Two of every three people waiting are over age 50. About 2,000 are under age 18. For more, see organdonor.gov
Organ Donor Family Tribute, April 23
Along with the campaign, Tucson’s 12th Annual Organ Donor Family Tribute Ceremony will be held Sunday, April 23, 2-4 p.m., in Kiewit Auditorium at the UA Cancer Center’s Leon F. Levy Building, 1515 N. Campbell Ave. It brings together donor recipients, donors, families and friends—as well as physicians, nurses and transplant services staff from Banner – UMC—to speak about the importance of giving the gift of life by registering to become a donor. In past years, a balloon launch has capped off the event, but a dove release will highlight this year’s grand finale.
“We thought it would be exciting to have this lively change of pace,” said Kim Hilty, RN, a nurse supervisor at Banner – UMC Tucson and co-chair of the donor committee with Madison Bardsley, RN, a nurse manager on the Diamond 2 West unit. “They’re like homing pigeons in that they’ll come back.” The doves—16 in all—come from Desert Rose Doves, a Marana, Ariz., group that also provides doves for the hospital’s child memorial service in the fall.
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Walk/Run/Register at March for Babies, April 30
Banner – UMC Tucson and South’s “one big day” donor registration event will be Sunday, April 30, at the March of Dimes March for Babies 5K walk/run at Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way. You can join or donate to the “Health Care for Hope” hospital team at this link. Brianne Snyder, the hospitals’ Donor Network of Arizona representative, is team captain.
“March for Babies will be the only event we do this year, so we’re doing it big,” she said. “Our mascot, Reggie the Donor Cactus will be there. We’ll be registering folks at our Donate Life table, where all you have to do is swipe your driver’s license to confirm your donor status. And we’ve got freebees and Donate Life Arizona t-shirts. Look for us in light blue.”
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Two areas for the March of Dimes event where help is still needed, Snyder said are:
- Booth Volunteers — Help run the Donate Life table and register participants for the the Arizona organ donor registry. It’s as easy as swiping a credit card, but free of charge. To volunteer, send an email to: brianne.snyder@dnaz.org
- Walkers/Runners/Skippers/Joggers — Whatever you do best, join our team for the walk/run.... Please register yourself with the Health Care for Hope team here: http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/HealthCareforHope
In both cases, send your shirt size to Snyder (see email above) so she can get it to you before the event. Families, husbands, wives, and kids are all welcome to join the fun at:
March of Dimes Tucson March for Babies 5K Walk/Run
Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, Tucson, AZ 85716
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Registration time: 7 a.m.
Start time: 8 a.m.
Distance: 3 miles
About the Donor Network of Arizona
Donor Network of Arizona (DNA) saves and heals lives as Arizona’s only federally designated, nonprofit organ procurement organization. DNA facilitates the transplantation of organs, tissue and corneas. Join the more than three million Arizonans registered as organ and tissue donors by signing up in honor of Banner – UMC Tucson and South at DonateLifeAZ.org. Arizonans can also register by checking the donor box at any Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) office when they renew a driver’s license or photo ID. Follow us on Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram: @DonateLifeAZ