New Mexicans Sign Up As Organ Donors

Turns out that New Mexican's have big hearts, and lungs......and even eyes.

Over 20,000 New Mexicans have signed up as organ donors in less than two weeks since Governor Bill Richardson publicly registered himself as an organ donor. Of that, nearly 200 New Mexicans utilized the new online donor registry website that the Governor announced earlier this month.

“Governor Richardson’s leadership on this issue and his very public pronouncement as a registered organ donor has certainly helped raise awareness about the importance of organ donations,” State Taxation & Revenue Secretary Rick Homans said. “I also want to commend the efforts of New Mexico Donor Services for their relentless campaign to bring attention to this life-saving issue.”

More than 35,000 New Mexicans have registered as organ donors in August, compared to over 26,000 in July, a 35 percent increase. This increase comes on the heels of Governor Richardson holding a public event to unveil a new website and signing up as an organ donor on August 18, along with a public awareness campaign undertaken by the New Mexico Donor Services.

A vast majority of new organ donors have registered while renewing or getting a new driver’s license or an identification card at the motor vehicle divisions’ offices across New Mexico .

But with the launch of a new website and registry earlier this month, New Mexicans now have another way to sign up as an organ donor. The site and registry were created through an $115,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and is a collaborative effort between the Motor Vehicle Division, New Mexico Donor Services and New Mexico Lions Eye Bank.

The Donate Life Donor Registry Website can be found at www.nmdonor.org or www.nmdonor.com.