Family trip an effort to boost organ donors

A family that sold its home and possessions to fund a year-long trip across the country to promote organ, eye and tissue donation is asking Kansans to lead the race to help more than 110,000 Americans waiting for transplants.

Kansas is the 47th state to be visited by former Illinois residents Mike and Sheri Greiner, whose mission is to dispel myths about the organ donation process and to increase donor registration. They are challenging each of the 50 states to sign up the most new donors in one day.

On Tuesday the Greiners and their son Levi, 13, and daughter Chloe, 10, will be at Planet Sub in northeast Wichita to help Kansans add their names to the national organ donor registry.

Mike Greiner said he will buy a cookie for the first 50 registrants.

"There's really no good reason not to register,'' he said. "You can save nine people, and saving them costs you nothing. You've already passed away. So suddenly your passing away can mean so much to other people."

The Greiners have spent more than 1,000 hours together in a blue Chrysler Town and Country van, driving 35,000 miles. On Wednesday, the Greiners will head to Nebraska, followed by Iowa and Illinois. The family will wrap up its trip April 30.

According to their website, the Greiners have registered nearly 37,000 donors.

Eric Burrus, franchisee for both Planet Sub locations in Wichita, said he's glad to help Greiner and Donate Life, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the number of organ, eye and tissue donors nationwide.

"I definitely think it's a worthwhile cause," Burrus said.

"Hopefully people come in and sign up."

Greiner, 42, received a kidney and pancreas transplant in 2003. His donor, a 21-year-old Wisconsin woman, died from a genetic disease.

"Having been on that waiting list, it's so difficult waiting for a phone call to let you know if you are going to live,'' he said.

"Our heart goes out to the people who are waiting. Our hope is that everyone would be registered so there is no wait at all, but we are a long way from that."