Secretary of State Jesse White announced that the state's organ and tissue donor registry has reached seven million registrants.
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"I am so proud that Illinoisans continue to show their giving spirit and commitment to others by signing up for this lifesaving program," said White, who heads the state's Organ/Tissue Donor Registry. "Our mission is to strengthen the Organ/Tissue Donor Program through outreach and registration initiatives.
Each year nearly 300 people die waiting for a transplant in Illinois, according to White.
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"We want to end the waiting for the approximately 4,000 people statewide. Each year about 300 people die waiting for a transplant in Illinois," he said. "It takes less than a minute to register, and one person can improve the quality of life for up to 25 people."
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White says of the more than 12.6 million people living in Illinois, there are more than 10.7 million individuals who qualify to become a donor. Of those, 65% have registered, including more than 100,000 16- and 17-year-olds who were allowed to register thanks to a law White initiated in 2018.
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White said he has a personal connection to organ donations because his sister received a kidney transplant from an anonymous donor that extended her life for 27 years.
To register as an Illinois organ/tissue donor, visit LifeGoesOn or call 800-210-2106.
The video featured is from a previous report.