Organ Donor Awareness

Kin History: Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness

Promoting organ donation awareness was the first national public awareness project of Kin Canada. Established in 2001, the Kin Organ Donation Awareness Campaign (Kin-ODAC) honoured Andrew Hatfield, a St. John’s East Kin Kid with a congenital heart disease who died waiting for a heart transplant. Andrew dreamed of helping other transplant hopefuls by raising awareness about the importance of organ donation. Because of Andrew, Kin have been raising awareness in communities across Canada so that, one day, no one will have to die waiting for an organ.

In 2016/17, tissue donation awareness was added to the campaign and the program is now recognized as the Kin Organ and Tissue Awareness Campaign. While the name of the campaign has changed, Andrew Hatfield and the impact of the Kin-ODAC are not forgotten.  

Partners for Life 

Organ and tissue donation awareness is a natural extension of our partnerships with Cystic Fibrosis Canada and Canadian Blood Services. This is because most people with Cystic Fibrosis eventually need a lung transplant in order to live with the disease. Canadian Blood Services is an integral part of the donation and transplantation system.  

Organ and Tissue Donation Facts

• Organ donation from 1 person can save the lives of up to 8 people.
• Tissue donation from 1 person can improve the lives of up to 75 people.
• Approximately 4,500 individuals are waiting for transplants.
• Each year, more than 250 people die waiting for a transplant.
• Age doesn't impact your ability to be an organ and tissue donor—Canada's oldest organ donor was 92 and the oldest tissue donor was 102. 
• Donation will only be considered after every effort has been made to save your life. 

Register as an Organ and Tissue Donor 

If you wish to be an organ and tissue donor, it is important that you officially register through the registry in your province. 

Talk to your family!

Even if you have documented your wishes by registering through a provincial registry, it is vital that your family knows about your decision.

In most provinces, hospital staff will still talk with the next-of-kin of potential donors about what their loved one requested.

Donor families say they are comforted by the feeling that their loved one's death was not in vain.