Foundation aims to set world record for organ donation
In October, I was inspired by joining Governor Herbert, Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office, and student body presidents from all the colleges and universities in Utah to kick off a world record-breaking organ donor sign-up drive. Here are two KSL videos on the event:
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
Text from the press release:
SALT LAKE CITY – Gov. Gary Herbert is scheduled to honor the Quest for the Gift of Life Foundation and the Springville High School “Closer Than Brothers” group of 12 boys and 1 girl on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at a media day on the State Capitol steps in Salt Lake City for breaking the Guinness World Record for signing up the most organ donors on a single day.
He will also acknowledge the Quest Foundation and their supporters for launching a new (second) Guinness World Record for organ donor registrations. Legislative leaders will be there along with student leaders from all 10 state universities.
In August the “Closer Than Brothers” group and fellow Springville High School students were instrumental with event sponsor and organizer Quest for the Gift of Life Foundation in breaking a Guinness World Record for the most potential organ donors signed up in a single day by registering more than 760 people. The previous record was 562 held by a group in Thailand. The students participated in the donor registration drive to honor fellow student Brandon Curtis who died a month earlier when a vehicle he was in rolled at the high school parking lot. Recent news articles report Brandon’s donated organs helped save seven lives and that his tissues and bones went to more than 50 people.
Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, will also participate in the half-hour program, which is to involve several of her family members, including a sister who gave an organ to her brother 30 years ago, a son who received a kidney and another son who donated a kidney to help preserve his brothers life.
The event begins at 1 p.m. on the State Capitol steps. Music is by a Westminster Choir.
The Quest for the Gift of Life Foundations mission is to help solve the existing organ donor shortage, focusing primarily on Utah. Utah is presently leading the nation in organ donation due to the cooperation between all members of the Utah Organ Donor Coalition.
Salt Lake Mayor Ralph Decker has targeted Oct. 23, National Make A Difference Day, as Organ Donor Awareness Day in Salt Lake City. The Quest Foundation’s goal for the 23rd is to set the new Guinness World Record of the most organ donor registrations in one day at multiple locations, mainly college campuses around the state along with charter schools and about 40 businesses, including minority-owned businesses.
For more information contact David Nemelka, Founder, Quest for the Gift of Life Foundation at 801-376-4609.
