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The Kidney Foundation of Canada is pleased to announce that it is joining the Canadian Transplant Association as a supporting partner in the Green Shirt Day initiative. “Green Shirt Day honours the Logan Boulet Effect, and is a fantastic opportunity for The Kidney Foundation and the kidney community to inspire Canadians to become organ donors,” says Elizabeth Myles, National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. “There are 4,300 Canadians on the list for a transplant, and the majority, 78% of them, need a kidney. Every year more than 200 people die because the wait is too long. Our goal is that every Canadian who needs a life-saving transplant will get one.”

Green Shirt Day began as a partnership of the Canadian Transplant Association, Canadian Blood Services and Global News. The day honours the legacy of Logan Boulet, a 21-year-old Humboldt Broncos hockey player who died following a tragic bus crash that took the lives of 16 people on April 6, 2018. Logan’s parents, Bernadine (Bernie) and Toby Boulet, honoured Logan’s wish to be a donor, saving the lives of six Canadians. Just prior, Logan told his parents he wanted to register as an organ donor when he turned 21 - inspired by his coach Ric Suggitt, who became an organ donor after passing away suddenly in 2017.

Logan giving the gift of life inspired more than 100,000 Canadians to register their intent to donate their organs in a national groundswell of support now widely known as 'The Logan Boulet Effect'. “On April 7, we are encouraging Canadians to wear green to remember the Humboldt bus tragedy and build upon the ‘Logan Boulet Effect’,” says Canadian Transplant Association President Brenda Brown. “Let’s inspire one another by registering as donors and telling our family.”“We are inviting people to have the kitchen table talk with their family about organ donation. Even more important than registering to donate, have that talk. We know firsthand how important that is,” says Toby Boulet.

 

The Boulet Family

Since Logan’s tragic death, the Boulet family has been travelling across Canada, advocating for organ donation. “We are building on Logan’s wish,” says Bernie Boulet about this new chapter in their lives. Toby and Bernie Boulet were the keynote speakers at The Kidney Foundation’s gala in Saskatchewan in October of 2018. Logan’s sister Mariko, and his two aunts Ailwin and Marjorie were featured guests at The Kidney Foundation’s gala in Edmonton in November of 2018.
 
Then, in February 2019, Toby, Bernie and Mariko Boulet dropped the puck at the Lethbridge Hurricanes game, in support of the second season in the series RE/MAX Presents: WHL Suits Up With Don Cherry to Promote Organ Donation, spearheaded by The Kidney Foundation in Southern Alberta. The Boulets wore one-of-a-kind hockey jerseys with #LB27 on the sleeves, ‘the Logan Boulet Effect’ inside the collar, and Logan’s hockey nickname “Bouls” across their backs.

In March 2019, Toby and Bernie Boulet joined Cindy Cherry, who donated a kidney to her brother Tim 40 years ago, as featured speakers at The Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Gala in Vancouver. “Logan wasn’t a spotlight guy, and it really hits us how big this has become,” says Toby Boulet. “We have Logan in our hearts as we build on his legacy.”

 REGISTER YOUR CONSENT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR