2 Year Journey to bring Transplant Awareness
Toronto Sun reports that George Marcello is embarking on a two-year-old journey across the Americas that will, he hopes, save thousands of lives.
The liver donation advocate, who received a life-saving transplant 14 years ago, is now taking the 7th Step By Step campaign on the road and visiting 277 cities in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean to spread awareness of organ donation.
"We're going through 36 countries," said Marcello, 54. "This will be an issue that most Democrats and Republicans can agree on, that all religions and colours will agree on. We want to bring organ donation to the forefront on two continents."
Beginning Oct. 23 in Alaska, Marcello will be travelling in an ambulance, being converted into a webcasting truck, which will show a live feed at sostheamericas.com of each city visited, with his final stop in Argentina on Oct. 24, 2011.
There are also large fundraising efforts for the trip, which will cost Marcello between $400,000 and $500,000. To get the campaign off the ground, Marcello said he has had to mortgage his west-end home.
"There are a lot of bills to pay," he said. "In order to get this started, I had to mortgage my house. That's how dedicated I am since I received that gift 14 years ago. I want to find ways to save that person on the waiting list."
Each stop will have student ambassadors who'll carry the "torch of life," which represents hope and love for those who require transplants, along a specific route.
The previous Step By Step campaign in 2007 lasted a year. One hundred students across Canada from St. John's to Yellowknife carried the "torch of life," which Pope Jean Paul II blessed in 2001.
"A lot of people were inspired," Marcello said. "When it's coming from a student, it has a more emotional effect on people."
Canada has more than 4,000 people on the waiting list for an organ transplant; the United States more than 90,000, Marcello said. And at least one Canadian dies each day while waiting for a transplant and almost every hour someone passes away in America.
One person can save several lives by donating two lungs, two kidneys, a heart, liver and pancreas.
Marcello will unveil the truck of life at a press conference at Queen's Park on Monday. For more information or to donate online, go to sostheamericas.com.
[ Posted on Saturday October 17 - 9:44 pm ]
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