Living Kidney Donor Awareness Campaign
Campaign Purpose – Save Lives
The Problem: One hundred thousand people are in desperate need of a replacement kidney. Their life-threatening wait can range from 3-9 years. Nearly 5,000 people die while waiting each year. Caring citizens can do more.
One Solution: The TransplantFirst Academy (TFA) was first in line to roll out a billboard campaign to inspire a life-saving alternative to our nation’s life-threatening wait for a kidney. That life-saving alternative is living kidney donation. Designed as a tribute to honor real, life-saving Living Kidney Donors (LKD), this campaign also triggers increased awareness and the potential for citizen engagement. TFA’s founder, Risa Simon, dedicates her time as a peer mentor, motivational speaker, patient advocate and writer. She even published a book to inspire those in need of a kidney transplant to find living kidney donors. To learn more visit: FindingKidneyDonors.com
Campaign Tribute
TFA’s Living Donor Awareness Campaign is a tribute to those brave individuals who courageously saved the life of another. These living heroes don’t wear a Medal of Honor or a superman or superwoman’s outfit. Instead they hold an intrinsic “Lifetime achievement” award for the role they played in improving and extending someone’s remaining years. As ambassadors of human kindness, they inspire citizens to stretch their imaginations and aspirations to “pay-it-forward” for the greater good. (Learn more here: www.1Kidney.org)
The Difference Between Living & Deceased Donors
Living kidney donors are individuals who chose to donate a kidney during their life. The difference between living kidney donors and deceased donors is significant. What sets living donation apart from deceased, is that living donors get to witness the miracle of their gift for many years to come. Living kidney donors can also continue to live a full life after donation. And living donors can choose to donate a kidney (or a lobe of a lung, partial liver, pancreas or intestine) while they are living – without giving up their right to be an organ donor later in life.
It Takes a Special Person
Living kidney donation is not for everyone. It takes a special person (and a very healthy person) to qualify. Living kidney donors offer end stage kidney patients the most effective therapy for kidney failure. Their gift provides a better quality of life, fewer medical complications and longer life expectancy than the only alternative, dialysis.
Why Is This Important?
More people die each year while waiting for a kidney transplant, than those who died in 9/11. The wait for a kidney from a deceased organ donor also causes thousands of kidney patients to experience advanced illness and complications that extend beyond the hope of ever receiving a transplant.
Target Goals
The TransplantFirst Academy’s ultimate goal is to empower kidney patients, save lives and inspire human kindness by increasing awareness and interest in living kidney donation. Our first yearlong billboard campaign went live in greater Phoenix back in 2015, yet our momentum does not stop here. We’re dedicated to educating and empowering kidney patients to fight for their best life possible, by avoiding dialysis (or ending their need) by attracting potential kidney donors. Your donation helps us expand education and empowerment opportunities for those in need.
Information is Power
There’s a lot to learn when it comes to living kidney donation. That’s why TFA created resource page which includes access to the Top 12 Need to Know Questions & Answers to Living Kidney Donation. Learn more here: Top 12 Questions on Living Kidney Donation: How To Become One & How To Find One.
Make A Contribution Today!
Together, we have the power to save lives by inspiring citizens of our communities to seek the best opportunity humanity has to offer. Act today.
*Your contribution is tax-deductible through the TransplantFirst Academy, a non-profit 501c3 corporation. Funds received will go directly to creating educational media, expanding need awareness, posting articles and video channels, website hosting and software “use” fees. We do not take salaries or have paid employees. We function in the truest form of “give-back” by passionately volunteering our time.