April Declared Organ Donation Month

James Conte

Councilman Eugene Cook sponsored a resolution declaring April Organ Donation Month and urges all residents to opt-in to saving a life.  There are currently more than a 120,000 individuals on a waiting list for organ donation; in New York State alone the number exceeds 10,000.  For many, a donated organ is the answer to a life or death situation.  Every 15 hours someone in New York State loses their life waiting for an organ.

One of the reasons why so many lives are lost is because only 22% of New York State residents are registered organ donors compared to 45% of residents across the rest of the US.  The saddest part of these facts is that it is easy to opt-in to organ donation either by online registration or when you apply for or renew your driver’s license or non-driver identification card.  That is why Councilman Cook is urging all Huntington residents to consider opt-in to saving a life.

“The reason why it was important for me to sponsor this resolution today was in honor of my friend Assemblyman James

Councilman Cook

Conte, who received an organ donation over 20 years ago.  That donation not only allowed him to serve the Huntington community for 24 years but to raise 3 wonderful children with his wife Debra.  Without that organ donation, the Town of Huntington would have lost out on a leader who unselfishly served our community; maybe your choosing to opt-in may save the life of a future leader in this great town” “said Councilman Eugene Cook.