NDSS student Cameron Laturnus is doing what he can to inspire more people to donate their organs. (Submitted photo)

By Ian Holmes

Green Shirt Day

Nanaimo student pushes for organ donor awareness

Apr 7, 2021 | 5:32 AM

NANAIMO — An ailing relative and a Humboldt Broncos bus crash victim sprung a Nanaimo teen into action.

Cameron Laturnus, a 12th grade NDSS student, created a push within his own school community to recognize the third annual Green Shirt Day on Wednesday, April 7.

Laturnus said an extended family member is recovering after receiving a kidney transplant in February, touching a personal chord of how simply giving permission for an organ to be donated can saves lives.

“If I can help give the gift of life to others and help other people come back to a normal and healthy life that would be a great thing to do. I’m just really happy to have that opportunity to help.”

Laturnus is also signed up as an organ donor after the 17-year-old received permission from his parents.

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4,400 Canadians are waiting for an organ donor, according to the Canadian Transplant Association, who started the Green Shirt Day initiative.

The association stated nearly 150,000 Canadians registered as organ and tissue donors in the weeks following the death of Broncos player Logan Boulet following a horrific bus crash on April 6, 2018.

“Logan Boulet, his generosity and how that has affected Canadians has really opened up my eyes to the ability that each person has to help others by being willing to donate,” Laturnus told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Six people in Canada benefited from Boulet’s organs. He signed up to be an organ donor just weeks prior to his death.

Laturnus focused most of his Green Shirt Day awareness online..

The aspiring physiotherapist said their student council and numerous teachers are backing his effort.

“Many teachers have shown great support and promised to talk to their students about it on Wednesday.”

The City of Nanaimo will have the historic Bastion structure lit up green for the week of April 18 in recognition of Organ Donation Awareness Month.

British Columbians can register to become an organ donor at transplant.bc.ca.

Nearly 5,500 British Columbians are alive today because of an organ transplant, according to Transplant BC.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes