Mysuru: Young Indians (Yi), an integral part of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in association with JSS Hospital, conducted a Walkathon to spread the importance of organ donation in city this morning. The Walkathon was flagged off from Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple at the North Gate of Mysore Palace, by SP Ravi D. Channannavar.

In his address, he said that it is very important to donate organs as it would help many to live. More awareness should be created in this regard, he added and pledged to donate his organs.

Manjunath and Chandini, recipients of kidneys, who also took part in the Walkathon, thanked their donors and said that they are participating in the Walkathon because of the donors who donated their kidneys to them.

The participants numbering about 250, comprising members of the public, Yi members and JSS Hospital staff, carried placards on the importance of organ donation and passed through Town Hall, Gandhi Square, Sayyaji Rao Road, K.R. Circle and culminated at the starting point.

The organisers of the Walkathon said that thousands of people die every year with organ failure and added that the only way they can have a new lease of life is by having an organ transplant.

Stating that one donor can give life to a minimum of eight people, they said that there was a critical shortage of organs and the gap between the number of organs donated and the number of patients waiting for a transplant was increasing day by day.

Right now, more than one lakh people in the country need an organ transplant and every year around 1,000 people die while waiting to find an organ donor, they added.

Organ transplantation is one of the most miraculous achievements of modern Medical Science which depends entirely on the generosity of donors and their families who are willing to make this life saving gift to others.

Dr. Ravi, Dr. Manjunath Shetty, Dr. Ghori, Yi Mysuru Chapter Chairperson Akshara Kumar, members Chaitra Narayan, Ravi Shankar, Shraddha, Sharath, Suresh and others took part in the Walkathon.