Hundreds of people attended the fifth annual Transplant Trot at Burnaby Lake Regional Park Sunday. The event comes ahead of #48in48, a national registration drive for organ donation.
According to Margaret Benson of the Canadian Transplant Association, the Transplant Trot started five years ago to highlight the life-changing power of organ transplants.
Benson received a double lung transplant nearly 17 years ago.
“My life totally changed,” she said of the transplant. “I have been able to run and dragon boat. I’ve travelled the world for the World Transplant Games, won medals, met extraordinary people I never would have met.”
#48in48
Fewer than 25 per cent of Canadians have signed up to be an organ donor.
As part of the #48in48 campaign, Global BC and BC Transplant are working to change that. Starting April 18, they aim to have 48,000 conversations about organ and tissue donation online in just 48 hours.
Benson urged British Columbians to register through the BC Transplant website.
“One person can save eight lives and also change the lives of so many people,” she said. “It’s an amazing gift, the greatest gift you can ever give.”