Charlotte, NC–On Saturday, May 26, LifeShare Of The Carolinas will proudly sponsor Joey Gase as he drives the #35 Donate Life car in the Alsco 300. The car will bear the name and photo of Detective Mike Doty, whose donated kidneys saved the lives of two people. The 37-year-old died January 17, after being shot while searching for a domestic violence suspect. Doty was a registered organ donor and his kidneys saved the lives of two people.

Gase has been a strong advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation after his own personal loss at the age of 18. His mother, Mary Jo, died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in 2011 and Gase made the courageous decision to donate her organs. Since he began racing in NASCAR, Gase has partnered with organ donation agencies across the country to honor donors and promote the cause on a nationwide stage.

Doty’s family will spend the day with Gase at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and watch the race from the team’s pit box. Family members and law enforcement colleagues will also have the opportunity to pay tribute to Doty during a special event the week before the race. Details on that event will be released at a later date.

Please tag your stories by referring to LifeShare’s website, LifeShareCarolinas.org., to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor or learn more about donation.

• More than 114,000 Americans are in need of a life-saving organ transplant; In North Carolina, more than 3,000 people are on the waiting list. That is more than the combined seating capacity of Bank of America Stadium, BB&T Ballpark and Spectrum Center.
• One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation, restore sight to two people and enhance the lives of up to 75 people through tissue donation.
• 22 people die every day because the organ they need is not donated in time.
• There is no age limit to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Everyone should consider themselves a potential donor. Donation experts will determine if someone meets the medical criterial for donation at the time of death.
• If you are sick or injured, your healthcare team’s top priority is to save your life. Donation is only considered after death has been declared
• 95% of Americans support donation, but only 62% make their decision official, according to a 2012 National Survey of Organ Donation Attitudes and Behaviors commissioned by the US Department of Health & Human Services
• There are several ways to join the North Carolina donor registry:
• Register when getting or renewing your driver’s license
• Register online at LifeShareCarolinas.org.
• Get a paper registration form by calling LifeShare at 800-932-GIVE (4483)
• Register in the Medical ID tab of the iPhone Health app