In death, the greatest gift anyone can give is one of life.
Becoming an organ donor makes that gift possible.

Last friday, an Ontario man walked into Castlegar to bring that message to residents as part of what will be an almost two-year trek to raise awareness about the importance of becoming an organ donor

"What we're trying to do here and with this walk is inspire every Canadian to make this a priority in their lives," said George Marcello on the 312th day of walk across Canada. The walk started in Toronto on June 20,2000. Marcello headed west from there, will end in Victoria and then fly back east and trek across the Maritimes. He hopes to finish his walk in Toronto on Feb.20,2002.

Castlegar was the 200th community at which Marcello stopped to pass along his message

Not only is it important for residents to become organ donors, it's equally important for them to inform loved ones that they have done so.

Right now, Marcello said families have the final say in whether or not organs are donated. That, Marcello said, is a huge flaw in the system because organ donations, in many cases, come from victims of sudden tradegy. Marcello said it's unfair to ask family members facing the loss or imminent loss of a loved one to make those decisions.

With the list of Canadians who need transplants swelling towards 4,000, it'a a system, Marcello said, that has to change.

"We need to do something about the system. Canadians should have a vote on this-areferendum. We should have the legal freedom to ensure our wish is carried out," Marcello said.

Marcello said he hopes the day will come when those in need of transplants are no longer "deserately waiting for them, but optimisically expecting the,."

Now 45, Marcello recieved the liver transplant which saved his life in 1995.

Ninteen-year-old Chris Hutton walked the final stretch of road to the Castlegar complex with Marcello. Marcello asked the youth to carry the Torch of Life; an authentic Olimpic torch which represents hope, harmony and a spirit for continuance of life;for that stretch.

"I felt pretty honoured," said Hutton, who received a kidney transplant in May of 1998.

"I see how many people are on dialysis now and how many kidneys are needed so I think what he is doing imporant."

The two met by chance

"I just pulled over and told him how much I appreciated what he was doing and he asked me to carry the torch. I was kind of surprised," Hutton said.

The torch was donated to Marcello by Step By Step Organ Transplant Association, a non-profit charitable organization commited to increasing the dismal rate of organ and tissue donations in Canada. Here, only 14 per cent of residents become organ donors.

Castlegar mayor Mike O'Connor was on hand to greet Marcello

"We have people in our community who have received organs and I know they really appreciate what you are doing," O'Connor told Marcello and residents who came to meet the walker.

West Kootenay-Boundry MLA Ed Conroy was also at the complex when Marcello arrived and told him and the crowd that he knows first hand about the benefit of transplants after receiving one in March 1996 and a second in November 1997.

"As a double-transplant person, I know what the gift of life can feel like,"Conroy said.

"There are hundreds of lives that are saved by transplants."

Conroy said he hoped Marcello's efforts to raise awareness about this life and death issue are successful because awareness is key in bringing up Canada's dismal organ rate.

" I sure hope more people will give it some consideration because it works. It's a wonderful thing we can do these days," said Conroy

Rossland-Trail MP Jim Gouk said he was optimistic Marcello's efforts will make a difference.

Gouk said lives are literally depending on people to become organ donors and said doing so is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.

" What better legacy can you have. The very final thing you do is saving the life of someone when you leave," Gouk said.

Dale Donaldson, owner Mallard's Source for sports in Castlegar, gave Marcello a new pair of shoes for his next stage of the walk, which will take Marcello through to Victoria.

When he heard Marcello had no corporate sponsorship, Donaldson said he will arrange through Source for Sports to have additional new shoes provided to Marcello at several points when Marcello begins the final stretch of his walk from New Brunswick to Toronto.

" I believe in what he's doing," Donaldson said.

Marcello said the walk has been difficult at times. He has a case of E-coli poisoning in Ontario, faced mosquitos and attacks fromwild dogs and has dealt with both sunstroke and frost bite. When he arrived in Castlegar, he was fighting off an infection in his foot.

" There have been a lot of physical challenges," Marcello said.

Although at times obsticles seemed insurmountable, Marcello said he was able to press on by taking each day one step at a time. Improving the organ donation system to help those waiting for transplants made that possible, he said.