Shekarchi honored for promoting organ donation

PROVIDENCE – R.I. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi has been recognized for his efforts to draw attention to organ donation.

Shekarchi received a certificate of appreciation from New England Donor Services, a nonprofit that often partners with Donate Life Rhode Island.

“One organ and tissue donor can impact as many as 50 lives – and that’s not even counting the loved ones of those affected,” Shekarchi said. “My mother was a skin and tissue donor; when she passed away, multiple people were helped by her generous donation, and it brought comfort to our family to know that she lived on through the people whose lives she impacted. I am registered to be an organ donor myself, and I encourage others to register as well.”

New England Donor Services and Donate Life America work together to recognize regional leaders who promote organ donation.

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According to the organizations, more than 5,000 New England residents are currently waiting for a transplant. In 2020, more than 1,027 organ transplants took place in New England, along with thousands of tissue transplants.

Elizabeth Graham is a PBN contributing writer.