National Donate Life Month and How to Outlive Yourself

DALLAS, April 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Transplant Alliance (STA) believes in the power of a pair of socks. Joining forces with NIKE to create the Outlive Yourself Foundation sock, Southwest Transplant Alliance is hoping to inspire action through a pair of socks and a powerful message.

The sock was created by NIKE with a special organ donor in mind, Taylor Storch. Woven into each and every sock are the threads of blue representing Taylor's favorite color and blue eyes. Five rings on the socks signify the individual lives she saved.

"When my daughter Taylor had a horrible skiing accident, it rocked our family to the core. We learned that in her passing, she had the ability to give life as a beautiful candidate for organ donation," said Tara Storch, donor mom and President of STA's Outlive Yourself Foundation. "That one moment and decision to say yes allowed her to give life to five people. The Outlive Yourself NIKE socks are a beautiful tribute to organ donors and transplant recipients everywhere."

April is National Donate Life Month and by visiting www.OutliveYourself.org and purchasing a pair of Outlive Yourself socks, you can join the movement and support organ donation. Supporters are encouraged to share #outliveyourself on social media.

Proceeds from purchases of the Outlive Yourself Sock from www.OutliveYourself.org will benefit the Outlive Yourself Foundation and Donate Life America.

There are 114,000 individuals awaiting a lifesaving organ as part of the national transplant waiting list. The Outlive Yourself Foundation was created by Dallas-based organ procurement organization Southwest Transplant Alliance.

"Outlive Yourself has become our battle cry. Every day in the United States, 22 people die waiting for lifesaving organs," said Patti Niles Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Transplant Alliance. "We are excited to see how we can inspire our community to not only register to become an organ donor, but to share the importance of giving life to others."

You can register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at RegisterMe.org or in the Medical ID tab of your iPhone Health app.

About Southwest Transplant Alliance
For more than 40 years, STA has been saving lives by recovering donated organs for individuals awaiting a lifesaving transplant. In April of 2017, STA began recovering tissue to improve lives. STA is among the largest of 58 federally designated, nonprofit organ procurement organizations (OPOs). Founded in 1974, STA has facilitated more than 25,000 organs for recovery and enhanced the lives of tens of thousands of people. STA is a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and is accredited by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO). The organization serves communities in North Texas, Beaumont, Bryan/College Station, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Galveston, Midland/Odessa, Temple, Tyler and Wichita Falls. For more information, go to www.organ.org. Sign up to be an organ donor today at www.DonateLifeTexas.org.

About Outlive Yourself Foundation
The Outlive Yourself Foundation was created by Southwest Transplant Alliance in 2018 to honor and support the gift of life through organ donation. The foundation's mission includes caring for organ donor families and transplant recipients, investing in industry and community education, and advancing transplant science. Learn more at outliveyourself.org.

About Donate Life America
Donate Life America (DLA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization leading its national partners and Donate Life State Teams to increase the number of donated organs, eyes and tissue available to save and heal lives. DLA manages and promotes Donate Life?, the national brand for the cause of donation; motivates the public to register as organ, eye and tissue donors; provides education about living donation; manages the National Donate Life Registry at RegisterMe.org; and develops and executes effective multi-media campaigns to promote donation.

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SOURCE Southwest Transplant Alliance