Canberrans are being encouraged to step out this week in support of the annual Gift of Life DonateLife Walk.
Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith said this year’s event was aimed at raising awareness for organ and tissue donation and would be a little different from the traditional five-kilometre walk around Lake Burley Griffin.
Ms Stephen-Smith said this year’s 2021 participants would instead walk in teams, family groups or as individuals at any time throughout the week and upload their photos to social media to show their support.
“Hundreds of lives in Australia are transformed and saved each year through the generosity of organ and tissue donors and their families,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“In 2020, 13 organ donors gave the ultimate gift of life in the ACT,” she said.
“Typically, each organ donor saves four to five lives.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said the Gift of Life’s DonateLife Walk has become a key event in the ACT community, bringing donor families, donor recipients and community members together to promote organ donation.
“We know many people in Canberra support organ donation but have not had the conversation with family and friends about their wishes or officially registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register,” the Minister said.
“Only 25 per cent of adults in the ACT are registered, less than the national average of 34 per cent,” she said.
Ms Stephen-Smith said people interested in becoming organ donors should register and discuss their wishes with their family.
Further information about the walk and how to register to take part can be accessed at this PS News link.
