CORE Heads To Harrisburg Urging House To Pass Donate Life Pa. Act

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - In the past five years, nearly 500 Pennsylvanians a year have died before they were able to receive an organ or tissue donation.

A bill to address the need has already been passed by the State Senate.

One group of people is spent Monday in Harrisburg to make certain the bill gets through the House as well.

The complex in RIDC Park is usually a bit quieter early on a Monday morning.

"We have a large group of volunteers, donor families, recipients going out to Harrisburg to try to get Senate Bill 850 passed," Colleen Sullivan, with CORE, said.

Today, nearly 75 people got on buses to go to Harrisburg, where they will meet with their representatives and senators to urging them to pass the Donate Life Pa. Act.

"In Pennsylvania, we currently have 8,500 people waiting for their life-saving transplant, but unfortunately because we don't have enough people checking that box yes, we are losing people that pass away every day waiting for that," Sullivan said.

Last year, 475 people died before they could get an organ or tissue transplant. They hope this law will make a difference.

"It will also mandate education in secondary schools, also college, high schools. It will give people an opportunity to learn more about organ and tissue donation and have a better opportunity to make that decision and be a little more informed as well," Sullivan said.

Even if Harrisburg fails to act right away, Sullivan said there are things you can do right now.

"if you haven't registered already to become an organ and tissue donor, you can register today at www.CORE.org. It takes less than 30 seconds and you don't need to go get a new driver's license. You can help save someone's life," Sullivan said.

Because CORE wants to make sure the 8.500 people who are patiently waiting will get help before it's too late.

"All in all, we are really out there to help give people a better opportunity to get that second chance at life," Sullivan said.

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