What is Whole Body Donor Day?
Every year, an estimated 20,000 people in the US make the incredible choice to contribute to the advancement of medical science with the gift of body donation. Their donations allow medical researchers and educators to continue their vital work to improve the health and lives of others.
Whole-body donors contribute to the study of disease, development of new treatments and less invasive surgical techniques, and advanced physician training. Chances are, we will all need medical treatment at some point in our lives, so we are all touched by whole-body donation.
We are continuously overwhelmed by the incredible generosity and selflessness of our donors. So, we created Whole Body Donor Day as a time to honor all of those who have given this generous gift to the medical community and everyone who will benefit from the knowledge gained from their donation. Whole Body Donor Day will be observed annually each fall.
2020 Whole Body Donor Day Activities
This year has been a difficult year for everyone the world over. The impact of COVID-19 has been felt globally and has rewritten what we had all come to consider as “norms” within our society. But, one of the greatest impacts has been on those who have lost a loved one this year. These unprecedented times have prevented us from grieving in the ways we typically would by preventing or limiting in-person memorial services, or even simply having others close by for emotional support.
This is why we believe that our annual memorial event is more important this year than ever before. While it is never easy to say goodbye to a loved one, our donor families need a supportive space to remember, grieve, and honor the amazing gift that their loved ones gave to medical science. We hope to provide that space for you all this year through a series of online events and activities.
On October 27th, MedCure will send out a memorial wreath into the water to commemorate our donors. The wreath will float out into the Columbia River from Thunder Island. Just like our scatter at sea urns, the wreath will be biodegradable so that our memorial service won’t have a negative impact on the environment. And, we’ll be live-streaming the wreath floating on our Facebook event page.
We’ll also be posting throughout the day on Facebook, sharing videos, pictures, and stories to remember and honor our donors. Be sure to follow us so that you can stay up-to-date on our event.
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An estimated 20,000 people in the US donate their bodies each year.
Ways to Get Involved
Whole Body Donor Day is a time for all who have been touched by body donation to participate. Whether someone you know was a donor, you’ve registered yourself to be a donor, or if you work in the medical industry and have benefited from someone else’s donation, this is a time for all to honor and show their appreciation for whole body donors. We welcome you to join us online on October 27th to share your story and help educate others on the significant mark body donation makes.
Submit a memorial for a loved one who donated to MedCure to share with friends and family
Create an Honor Fund in memory of your loved one to help support the medical research of your choosing
Join our Facebook event to see our updates and join our conversation leading up to Whole Body Donor Day
Download one of our Whole Body Donor Day images to share with friends and family on social media
On average, a whole body donor contributes to 5 medical research or training projects