Banner Health teams up with Donor Network of Arizona
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Banner Health, in partnership with the Donor Network of Arizona, is asking Arizonans to join the Banner Health Donor Team in an effort to increase the number of organ donors. There are nearly 1,000 people in Arizona waiting for an organ transplant. Tragically, some of these people will die before they can receive an organ because Arizona's rate of organ donation ranks near the bottom in the United States.
This past spring Donor Network of Arizona collaborated with several Arizona non-profit organizations to establish the online Arizona Donor Registry, an important step to increasing the number of organ donors. The Banner Health Donor Team will promote organ donation through Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury players and kidney and liver transplant patients.
Former Phoenix Suns All-Star Dan Majerle leads the team, along with Kayte Christensen of the Phoenix Mercury. Fred Thomas, a kidney transplant patient who received his transplant at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, is also pictured in selected promotions. |
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The campaign will utilize all media elements that are part of Banner Health's partnership with the Suns and Mercury.
This includes major signage in the America West Arena, distribution of information during games, radio, television, programs and player and Phoenix Suns Gorilla visits to transplant patients at Banner Good Samaritan. Early next year, the campaign will also seek other large corporations to become involved through the Banner Health Donor Team.
"Although organ donation happens under the most difficult of circumstances, a single donor can save the lives of several people," said Alfredo Fabrega, MD, medical director of Banner Good Samaritan's transplant services. The state's first organ transplant, a kidney transplant, was performed at Banner Good Samaritan. Today, Banner Good Samaritan provides more organ transplants than any hospital in Arizona.
"The Arizona Donor Registry is a terrific tool to register organ donors," says Banner Health, Arizona Region President Susan Edwards. "We greatly value our partnership with the Donor Network of Arizona," she continued.
People can register to become an organ donor by going online to http://www.azdonorregistry.org/, then click on "Register to become an organ donor." If you live outside of Arizona and would like to know more about your local organ donation team, please visit http://www.donatelife.net/.