Da Vida lauds organ donors

Da Vida lauds organ donors

By JULIAN AGUILAR, LAREDO MORNING TIMES
07/04/2007

A group of three men from Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, are making a road trip through North, Central and South America in hopes of raising awareness about organ donation in Latin America.Roberto Ramos, a member of the organization Da Vida, said the journey began in 2005 and will conclude after the group travels an estimated 54,000 kilometers, or 33,530 miles.

Ramos said Latin America, especially Mexico, has a high fatality rate for people waiting for organ donations because of cultural and religious beliefs that see organ donations as something negative.

Fernando Treviño, who is traveling with the group in a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu, said his father died after waiting for a liver on an organ donor list. He said that Mexico has more than 9,000 people on those lists, but fewer than 350 people who have committed to donate their organs when they die. By comparison, the United States has more than 88,000 people on waiting lists, but more than 12,000 committed organ donors.

So far, the group, which began its journey in a 2000 Pontiac Grand-Am, has traveled from Mexico to Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and through South America to Argentina. Their time in South America also afforded a 7-day trip down the Amazon on a barge. They quickly turned around and ventured back up north and stopped in Laredo on Tuesday on their way to San Antonio. From there, they plan to head toward New Mexico, Colorado and eventually California. Ramos said they would travel along the West Coast, and then hit Alberta, Calgary, in Canada and on to White Horse in the Yukon.

Throughout their journey, they stop at local radio and newspapers in various cities, telling the public what they do. Ramos said they hope to spread one central message, that "he who loves life, gives life after his death."

Ramos said that after stopping and regrouping in Alaska, the group will turn around and travel along the same route through Canada, the Unites States and Mexico, until they reach their original starting point, Saltillo, Coahuila. Information about the group may be requested by e-mailing davidasaltillo@hotmail.com.

(To reach Julian Aguilar, call 728-2547, or email jaguilar@lmtonline.com)