For Immediate Realease Contact:

Mark Johnson
Media Coordinator
johnsonm@lifepoint-sc.org 
1-800-462-0755                    

National Donor Sabbath

This year during National Donor Sabbath, faith communities throughout the nation will participate in discussions about the ability of human beings to save lives. Observed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to include the day of worship of most religions in the United States, National Donor Sabbath falls two weekends before Thanksgiving. 

National Donor Sabbath 2008 will be observed November 14 - 16 as members of faith communities focus on the life-affirming gifts of hope passed to others by organ, tissue, marrow, and blood donors. Many faith leaders will participate in services and programs to increase awareness of donation and transplantation and the critical need for donors. 

Over 700 people in SC and nearly 100,000 in the US are currently on the transplant waiting list.  Because those numbers keep growing, 18 people a day die waiting for a life-saving organ.  The solution to this problem is simple: encourage people to commit to being an organ and tissue donor and provide them with the correct information on how to ensure their decision will be honored.  This is the goal of National Donor Sabbath.