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DENVER (April 4, 2006) — A new Colorado and Wyoming "State of Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation" report released by the Denver based nonprofit Donor Awareness Council finds that while 2005 was a record year for donations in Colorado, there are four common myths that prevent more people from signing up to be donors. The report -- which includes the latest statistics for Colorado and Wyoming -- determines that "busting" those myths is the best way to empower people to say "yes". It is available online at www.donor-awareness.org.

April is National Donate Life Month. The Donor Awareness Council, a coalition of fourteen partner organizations dedicated to organ, eye and tissue donation, distributed the report today to Colorado state legislators and medical community partners. The organization says it provides an insightful picture of why some people are reluctant to register as an organ or tissue donor. The report concludes that donor advocacy groups should develop new initiatives to help the public distinguish between the myths and realities.

"The bottom line is that donors save lives and anyone can sign up," said Charlene Hill, executive director of the Donor Awareness Council. "We did a great job in 2005 but the need still outstrips the number of donors. Our goal is to educate people and help them get the facts."

The report identifies the four most common myths as follows:

• The mistaken belief that people can't donate. The truth is that people of all ages and medical histories can sign up to be donor.
  
  
• Distrust of the medical system. The fact is that organ and tissue donation only happens after death. No one will hasten a person's death just to recover their organs.
  
  
• It interferes with traditional funerals. The reality is that donation does not change the kind of funeral a person can have
  
  
• It is against their religion. In fact, most religions support donation and see it as the ultimate gift of life