Northern’s Student Nurses Association (SNA) held an organ walk at the Superior Dome on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 4-5 p.m. The event was hosted by organ donor recipient and NMU student Richard Jacobson and SNA president Phoebe Martin. 

An opportunity for students and the community to honor those who have saved lives through organ donation, the cause for this event is near and dear to the hearts of many.

“Being an organ recipient myself and coming here and being a part of actually getting the word out for the Gift of Life [Challenge] and honoring all of the other donors and spreading awareness not just in the U.P. but all over the nation is really important to me,” Jacobson said.

 Raising awareness about organ donation is not just about statistics or money, it’s about real people, real families and the opportunity to give someone a second chance at life

One of the many reasons clubs and organizations talk about organ donation is to clear up common fears and misunderstandings surrounding the courageous act.

The SNA’s main mission for this event was to spread the word about what it means to be an organ donor and how important it is for the general public to have that same understanding. 

The effort put into this event was apparent to those participating. There were multiple places with resources to obtain information on organ donation. SNA members staffed tables to hand out t-shirts and help anyone who wanted to register to become an organ donor.

This event was very important to the SNA in making the Gift of Life Challenge more well known, especially within the U.P. With the use of QR code donation signups and sharing the Gift of Life website with students and the community, the SNA team worked hard to provide resources for registering to become a donor.

The SNA competes in the campus challenge yearly as part of their mission. Colleges and universities around Michigan compete to see which school can sign up the most people to donate to the Gift of Life. 

The challenge is usually coordinated by health organizations, advocacy groups and educational organizations to motivate young adults to sign up as organ donors and inform their peers about the crucial benefits of donation.

“Most people forget that donations can happen during life and not just after death,” Martin said.

As societies continue to advance in medical technology and policy reforms, sustained efforts in education, advocacy and community engagement will remain crucial in ensuring equitable access to life-saving transplants. 

Ultimately, fostering a culture of organ donation can save countless lives and create a lasting impact on healthcare systems worldwide. By simply checking a box at the DMV or registering online, a single person can save many lives and make the world a better place.

Those interested in donating can reach out to the SNA on the Hub or register at giftoflifemichigan.org.