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Party Honoring Organ Donors Is Friday Night On Ben Franklin Parkway

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The annual "Donors Are Heroes" party takes place tomorrow night at a swanky hotel just off Philadelphia's Logan Circle.

The party is called "The Party," and it's in honor of Organ Donor Awareness Month.

"It is to raise awareness and to raise funds so that we can go into the community and dispel myths, educate the public, and raise awareness for the critical need for organ donation," says Renee Freeman (above), cofounder and executive board chairman of "Donors are Heroes."

Freeman has a personal connection to the cause.  Nearly 11 years ago her husband Don caught a virus that attacked his heart, causing him to need a transplant.

"While he was waiting [for the transplant] and living in the hospital, I saw other people that were waiting for over a year and then died because there weren't enough organs to go around -- that was the only reason," she recalls.  "The cure is there, we knew what they needed.  We didn't need research."

Hear Hadas Kuznits' full interview with Renee Freeman in this CBS Philly podcast...

Podcast

Renee and Don hope to help others by raising funds.  The Party takes place Friday evening at the Four Seasons Hotel.  Tickets are $75 and are available at the door.

Reported by Hadas Kuznits, KYW Newsradio 1060.


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