THE dynamic, dedicated and determined team of Amar Karma Organ Donation Society has been working very passionately to prepare through their 5^th annual Give a Heart 2015 event. It is their way of celebrating Valentine’s Day by giving it a new dimension. The event is scheduled to take place at Versailles Convention Center on February 7 from 6:30 p.m. onwards, and the program is jam-packed with entertainment, raffles and awards for the volunteers. Each year, the group brings you a feature of the event, and this year, it is going to be an art competition projecting organ donation. Students of grades 8-12 can submit their artwork by February 5 to win cash prize.

“We want to change how we keep talking about giving hearts, and not practically give hearts,” says Harjot Dhindsa, a Police Foundation’s student. “How about many of those who are on the waiting list for hearts? By giving your heart, you give it all.”

There are more than 1,571 people on the waiting list for organ donation in Ontario; 65 of these are for hearts. One of them dies every three days while waiting.

“How can we ignore this cause? It is just about caring, and giving back. How is it so difficult to sign up to be organ donors especially when it is after we are gone?” Mandy Khurana, Director of Program, pointed out, while speaking about importance of organ donation.

The team has been organizing many events to raise awareness about the urgent need for organ donation. Since the group of volunteers is not funded by any organization, all the expenses throughout the year are met by the funds collected at Give a Heart, the only fundraiser.

Loveen Kaur Gill, the founder and organizer at Amar Karma, says, “We chose a subject that is least talked in our community, but we are getting there. We have grown from one pioneer member to over 60 volunteers on our team. It is about constant talking and about normalizing organ donation just like anything else we do.”

Amar stands for eternal, and Karma is our actions. Amar Karma Organ Donation Society is first South Asian Organization in Canada to attempt organ donation awareness in a structural manner. For more information on tickets or sponsorship call 647-956-9021 / 647-898-9615 or visit www.amarkarma.org