Help Olivia raise money

Dear all, 

I figured it was time to put the steps to good use. 

On June 11th 2021, I will be running the VIRTUAL Montreal Scotia Bank 21K Half Marathon. While I train for this race, I would love to be able to raise both funds and awareness for Organ Transplants and Donation through the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation. 

I am aiming a little high, with a goal of $3000 in raised funds towards the MUHC Multi-Organ Transplant Database (MOTD). This database is the only tool that gives surgeons, physicians, nurses and pharmacists access to secure, cumulative and searchable patient information in real time. It helps match donors, tracks patient health, identify allergies, and automatically updates recipient waiting lists. 

The MOTD is running out of funding, and without the continued support and enhancement of this database, the entire organ transplantation process at the MUHC is threatened. 

There is an enormous amount of multidisciplinary teamwork in all phases of the operative journey of transplant patients. From transplant surgeon, to transplant physicians, to transplant coordinators, to transplant pharmacists and the specialized floor nurses, close to 100 people can be involved in the care of a transplant patient. These healthcare workers depend on a single transplant database: the MOTD. It provides secure, real-time data to help save as many lives as possible and help ensure optimal long-term survival.

In 2019, 250 Canadian children and adults died while waiting for a single/combination organ transplant (including liver, kidney, lungs, intestine, heart, pancreas, and pancreas islet cells). 50 of those people lived in Quebec. These numbers do not include those patients who become too ill while waiting to undergo transplantation and needed to be withdrawn from the waiting list. 

Also in 2019, 3053 single/combination transplants were performed in Canada, including 535 operations done in Quebec. This represents an amazing 42% increase in the last decade.  While this is excellent progress, the existing system at the MUHC depends on the MOTD, and urgent support is required.

Becoming an organ donor is also no small decision, but an incredibly meaningful one with vast potential for impact. To get the ball rolling, simply try talking about it with loved ones. To become an organ donor, you can sign the sticker on the back of your Medicare card (which arrives once you renew your card) OR go to www.signezdon.gouv.qc.ca.  

Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this page. The idea was first and foremost to keep the discussion about organ donation and transplantation alive. Furthermore, we have the ability to raise funds for the MOTD. Again, there is no such thing as a small donation. Please contact me with any questions or comments!

PS. Donations over 15$ will also receive tax receipts via email!

Contact info: olivia.ganescu@mail.mcgill.ca 

References: Canadian Institute for Health Information. e-Statistics Report on Transplant, Waiting List and Donor Statistics, 2019. Ottawa, ON: CIHI; 2020.