On the back of record breaking donor numbers in Victoria for 2010 and January 2011, DonateLife in Victoria kicked-off DonateLife Week and launched the DonateLife Book of Life at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne.

State Medical Director Dr Helen Opdam spoke about Victorians’ generosity in breaking local organ donor records and welcomed 2010 donor family, the Brennan family, and liver recipient, Johnny Cameron, to add their personal stories to the Book of Life.

In January this year, 13 generous Victorians gave 34 Australians a second chance at life. This continued the excellent result of 2010 when 98 Victorian organ donors saved the lives of 286 people across the country.

The DonateLife Book of Life was also launched in Ballarat and at the Carlton La Dolce Italia Festival, with local recipients and an Italian donor family contributing their stories.

DonateLife in Victoria volunteers and clinical teams were also out in force manning multiple stands at universities, shopping centres, train stations and hospitals across Victoria.

David Gough’s 5,000 km motor cycle marathon also made a stop at Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta and Albury and was met by local senior hospital nurses and media.