Allegheny Valley Hospital raises flag to raise organ-donation awareness

Officials from Allegheny Valley Hospital celebrated Donate Life Month on Monday with a flag-raising ceremony.

National Donate Life Month is celebrated every April to encourage people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those whose organ donations have saved or extended other people’s lives.

Across the country, more than 110,000 men, women and children are on organ-transplant waiting lists, including more than 8,000 in Pennsylvania.

Guest speakers at Monday’s event in Harrison included heart transplant recipient Craig Smith of Pittsburgh’s North Side; Chris Duckett, director of human resources for the Center for Organ Recovery and Education; and AVH’s educational specialist Amy Arduino. Allegheny Health Network is holding related events at each of its hospitals this month.