VICTORIA - More people in B.C. need to register for organ donation to
save lives as demand far outpaces the supply, urged Health Minister
George Abbott today at a legislature event as part of National Organ and
Tissue Donor Awareness Week from April 22-29.

"Organ donation is literally giving the gift of life but depends
entirely upon the generosity of donors and their families," said Abbott.
"There are more than 300 people in B.C. waiting for organ transplants
and hundreds more awaiting cornea transplants."

The BC Transplant Society, an agency of the Provincial Health Services
Authority, is campaigning to encourage more people to register as organ
donors.

Between April 2006 and April of 2007, a total of 270 organ transplants
were performed in the province, compared to 190 during the same period
the year before. Of those, nearly 40 per cent were living donor kidney
transplants - the highest ever in B.C. However, more work needs to be
done.

"The organ donation registry is a living will that ensures donors'
decisions are respected and offers the family solace so they don't have
to make a hard decision at an already difficult time," said Bill
Barrable, provincial executive director of the BC Transplant Society.

In 2006, 27 British Columbians died before receiving a donor organ. Wait
times for organ and tissue transplants depend entirely on the
availability of organs for transplant. Only 15 per cent of British
Columbians have registered their decision on B.C.'s Organ Donor
Registry. The BC Transplant Society's goal for 2007 is to increase the
number of new registrants by 55,000.

Within two weeks, Lynn Kennedy went from being a healthy person to
someone in a coma and in desperate need of a liver transplant. "I didn't
know it at the time, but my family was preparing to say goodbye... I was
so lucky to get a transplant," said Kennedy. "The transplant has given
me the opportunity to watch my kids grow up. My relationships are richer
and I want to make the most of the time that I now know is 'extra'."

To register as an organ donor or for more information, please visit
www.transplant.bc.ca. Organ donor registration forms are also available
from any London Drugs, ICBC Driver Services Centre, or by calling the
B.C. Transplant Society at 1-800-663-6189.