The need is real. The need is urgent. In Ohio alone, nearly 2,500 people are waiting for a transplant at any given time. And yet, fewer than half of Ohioans have registered to become an organ and tissue donor at the time of their death. This means that one Ohioan dies every other day waiting for a life-saving transplant, and hundreds more are in need of eye and tissue donations to improve their quality of life.

You might ask yourself: How does that affect me? Through organ and tissue donation every day citizens, just like you, have a chance to make a difference. To be a life saver. To be a hero. By joining the Ohio Donor Registry and agreeing to become an organ and tissue donor when you obtain or renew your driver license or state identification card, you can save seven lives, and enhance the quality of life for up to 50 others through tissue and eye donation! Or you can place your name in the Registry today by downloading an enrollment form and mailing it into the BMV Records Clearance Unit.

In Ohio, in 2003, more Ohioans died waiting for an organ transplant than were actual organ donors at the time of their death.

The need for organ, tissue and eye donation is critical. Thousands of Ohioans can be helped each year through the anatomical gifts of organs, tissues and eyes. Through advanced surgical techniques, a single donor has the potential to save seven lives through organ donation and enhance the quality of life for more than 50 others through tissue and eye donation.

• Nationally 17 people will die each day waiting for an organ. In Ohio, 216 people died while waiting for an organ transplant in 2003.
• On any given day in Ohio, nearly 2,500 people are waiting for an organ transplant, with 70 percent waiting for a kidney transplant due to endstage kidney disease.
• Hundreds of additional Ohioans are in need of cornea and tissue transplants.
• Nationally, African-Americans and other minorities make up about 20 percent of the population, but 50 percent of the waiting list for organ transplants is composed of minorities.
• Each year more than 1,600 Ohioans could have their sight restored through cornea transplants, and thousands more could benefit from tissue transplants, including, bone, tendons, skin and heart valves.

By joining the Ohio Donor Registry you make the choice to help. To be someone's hero.