In 2024, Lake Havasu City (LHC) became the first city in Arizona to officially proclaim April as Donate Life Month. It is fitting for a city that often boasts one of the highest percentages of residents making the generous decision to register as an organ and tissue donor compared to anywhere else in the state.
The initiative was championed by Regina Armstrong, a heart and kidney transplant recipient who moved to LHC in 2023 and immediately began volunteering for Donate Life Arizona. Regina’s advocacy inspired Mayor Sheehy and his council to align with the Governor’s statewide proclamation. The proclamation recognizes the vital importance of organ and tissue donation and saving the lives of approximately 114,000 patients on the nation’s transplant waiting list.
More recently, the City of Tempe (where Donate Life Arizona is headquartered) also declared April to be Donate Life Month! Presented by Tempe Vice Mayor, Doreen Garlid, the proclamation highlights how a single organ donor can save up to 8 lives and provide healing to 75 more patients in need. Once listed, patients may wait years for a perfect match. Meanwhile, a new name is added to the transplant waiting list every 9 minutes, underscoring the significance of reflecting on one’s own power to save lives.
Donate Life Arizona invites all local leaders across the state to learn more and participate in April’s celebrations by holding donor registrations drives within their respective communities. Visit DonateLifeMonthAZ.org to learn the facts and see how you can help your community promote the donate life mission. Together, we can help save and heal even more lives across Arizona.
For questions, please email PubEdEvents@dnaz.org
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