Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Springfield Clinic Pediatrics was the host for an event Monday morning meant to highlight the importance of Organ and Tissue donation in Illinois.

Speakers ranging from the Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, who lost a family member in an auto accident but whose after-life donation gave the family great solace, to Valerie Krohee, with Memorials transplant program who has assisted in hundreds of transplants in her 15 years of service.

Judy Foster’s husband benefitted from the Gift of Life when he received a double lung transplant 14 years ago. She says he’s doing great these days but then her own brother’s organs were donated after his death in a farming accident which she says helped the family to find peace.

Demarius Blank with the Secretary States Organ and Tissue Donation Program was on-hand and she talked about the many ways folks can register to donate their organs after life.

She says you can go online to GIFTOFLIFE.org to register for organ donation or call 800-210-2106 or by mail.