The Lloydminster Lions Club are the ambassadors for Green Shirt Day.
They aim to illuminate the city in green to honour Logan Boulet of the Humboldt Bronco’s legacy and promote organ donation awareness on April 7.
The devastation left behind by the 2018 Bronco’s bus crash led in part to Green Shirt Day. It helps forever remember the victims and families forever changed by the incident. It aims to continue Boulet’s mission of inspiring Canadians to discuss and register for organ donation.
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Ray Tatro, the district governor for northern Saskatchewan’s 5SKN district, has a deep-rooted commitment to this cause.
Tatro served on the Saskatchewan Provincial Eye Bank Board for over a decade, witnessing firsthand the transformative impact of cornea transplants.
“Lloydminster was the best cornea harvesting area in all of Saskatchewan due to one doctor that was here, Dr. Ray Rogers,” said Tatro, noting he thinks we could do the same for other organs going forward.
He stressed organ and tissue donations not only save lives but also significantly enhance the quality of life for recipients.
Shelley Tatro, Ray’s wife and fellow Lions Club member, shared her personal journey with organ donation advocacy, which began when her daughter required a kidney transplant.
Although her daughter passed away, Shelley continued her involvement. Eventually, this led her to the Lions Club and further collaboration with Ray. This year, as district governor, Ray chose organ and tissue donation awareness as his focus.
“This is a passion of his,” said Shelley. “Not that he’s had a family member involved or anything, but he was on the Lions Eye Bank for 13, 14 years.”
The Lions Club encourages the community to participate in Green Shirt Day by wearing green. Additionally, you can display green shirts in windows, or use green tape on sports equipment. They also suggest illuminating homes with green lights to symbolize support.
“We are just all about the awareness,” said Shelley.
Meanwhile, to facilitate organ donor registration, the Lions Club will be set up at the Servus Sports Centre this Saturday April 5. They will provide information and QR codes for easy online sign-up.
“Even more important is you let your loved ones know. Because chances are, if you’re in a wild wreck such as this one or whatever, they’re not going to be able to check your wallet,” said Shelley.
“It’s the loved ones that are there that are going to say, you know what, this is what they wanted.”
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