Mayor Gary Fuller designated April as Donate Life Month in Opelika at Tuesday's Opelika City Council meeting.
In 2003, President Bush nationally proclaimed April as Donate Life Month, Fuller said.
"It's a time to raise public awareness of the critical need for organ, bone marrow and blood donations," Fuller said. "I happen to be an organ donor and most of my family are organ donors. I'm sure many of y'all are."
Tony Dozier of Opelika, an organ recipient, received the proclamation from Fuller.
A year ago, he was hardly able to walk. Before the meeting, he completed a four-mile walk.
"On behalf of the Alabama Organ Center, it's a pleasure to be here and accept the proclamation from Mayor Fuller," Dozier said. "I encourage all of you who are not an organ donor to become one."
In 2010, 22,214 Americans and 392 Alabamians received a life-saving organ transplant, Fuller said.
"One of the most meaningful gifts a human being can bestow on another is the gift of life," he said.
Fuller said every 18 minutes, a new patient is added to the national organ transplant waiting list.
More than 110,000 men, women and children in the U.S. are on the waiting list, Fuller said.
Of the people waiting for an organ transplant, approximately 3,500 live in Alabama, Fuller said.
"The Alabama Organ Center is a nonprofit, independent organization dedicated to recovery of high quality organs in addition to transplantation therapy," Fuller said. "The city of Opelika supports the Alabama Organ Center's life-saving mission."
Last year, 243 Alabamians died while waiting for an organ transplant, he said.
"We honor all who have given the gift of life," Fuller said. "We focus our efforts on the donors. We encourage residents to designate their donation decisions and to share that donation decision with family members."
At the meeting, Fuller also encouraged citizens to attend "A Time to Build," an event which will be held April 7-9 at First Baptist Opelika.
Free and open to the public, Pastor Carter Conlon will speak and the Times Square Church Ensemble and Band AUBURN will provide praise and worship.
"It will be a spirit filled celebration, and I hope you will have the opportunity to attend," Fuller said.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
