Boone, N.C., March 27, 2024 — UNC Health Appalachian is among dozens of hospitals that will partner with HonorBridge to simultaneously host a statewide Donate Life Flag-raising ceremony and moment of silence. This event promotes the mission of organ, eye, and tissue donation and honors donors, donor families, recipients, and those waiting for a life-saving transplant in North Carolina.
The Pause to Give Life event kicks off the start of National Donate Life Month and will be held Wednesday, April 3, at 8:01 a.m. at the Watauga Medical Center Campus outside of the Heart and Vascular Center by the flagpole. The event is open to the public with parking available in the main hospital parking lot.
About the Donate Life Flag
In 2006, the Donate Life flag was first introduced. Since then, it has become a national symbol of unity, remembrance, and hope while honoring those touched by donation and transplantation. During the past 18 years, over 50,000 Donate Life flags have flown across America.
North Carolina Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation Facts
- Anyone age 18 or older with a North Carolina Drivers’ License can register as a donor regardless of age, health, gender, or ethnic or racial background.
- In 2021 “Yes and Carryover” legislation became law on October 1. Now, the red heart on NC drivers’ licenses and IDs includes organ, eye, and tissue donation, and your decision will always stay in the DMV registry without being asked every time you renew.
How you can help
Save and heal lives. Register as an organ, tissue, and eye donor at or by saying yes at the NC DMV Office. After registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor, share your decision with your family.
About Watauga Medical Center
Watauga Medical Center, a member of UNC Health Appalachian, is licensed as a 117-bed regional referral medical complex, offering both primary and secondary acute and specialty care. Services include laboratory, imaging, radiology, physical and occupational rehabilitation therapy, respiratory therapy, surgical services, cancer treatment, heart and vascular services, sleep services, pain management, and emergency services. The medical center is certified by The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center and earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Chest Pain Certification in 2018. The Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center, located on the campus of Watauga Medical Center is recognized as an approved community cancer care center by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. In July 2022, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System entered into a long-term Management Services Agreement (MSA) with UNC Health. This affiliation enables transformational change in primary care to improve lives in the High Country region of North Carolina. For more information, visit .
About HonorBridge
HonorBridge, formerly known as Carolina Donor Services, is the federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organization serving 7.5 million people in 78 counties in NC, along with Pittsylvania County in Virginia. With offices in Chapel Hill, Greenville, and Winston-Salem, HonorBridge is devoted to building connections that save and heal lives through organ and tissue donation. For the third consecutive year, HonorBridge was named Business North Carolina’s Best Employer. In NC, over 3,000 people are currently waiting for organ transplants, and nationally, over 100,000 people are on the organ waiting list. For more information, visit HonorBridge.org or call 1-800-200-2672.