Mississippi College Battles Delta State in Mississippi Organ Challenge

Visit www.msora.org/donorchallenge to register.

Rivals in the Gulf South Conference this fall, Mississippi College and Delta State will step up their competition in a new campaign to increase the number of organ donors.

Based in Flowood, the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency recently organized the friendly battle between the GSC rivals and other schools around the state. The campaign can save lives.

In 2012, the University of Southern Mississippi defeated Mississippi State University in the initial year of the MORA organ donor competition. In 2013, the University of Mississippi Rebels prevailed over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. In addition, Alcorn State University was the victor last year against SWAC rival Jackson State University.

The newest schools participating, Mississippi College and Delta State will square off from October 13 through November 7. It is the latest campaign by MORA to sign up potential organ, eye and tissue donors. Mississippi College athletic teams are transitioning to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference this fall.

MC’s School of Nursing is actively supporting the MORA drive to encourage more Mississippians to sign up as organ donors. On the Clinton campus, there’s hope that fans of the Blue & Gold will sign up in bigger numbers than supporters of the Delta State Statesmen.

Delta State School of Nursing leaders say this week they’ve already got 30 people signed up.

But the Mississippi College Choctaws are gearing up, too, and plan to respond. Potential donors must be at least 18 years old.

MORA’s Chuck Stinson plans to announce the winner of the organ donor contest when the MC Choctaws face Delta State in a November 15 football game. The GSC teams will renew their football rivalry with a 4 p.m. game in Cleveland during Delta State’s Homecoming.

MC was a member of the Gulf South Conference from 1972 through 1995 and used to play Delta State every season. At stake each football season was the Heritage Bell.

Mississippi College’s School of Nursing will set up tables and work with students at the university’s cafeteria to promote the organ donor competition.

Other statewide organ drives are stepping things up. The Alcorn State Braves-Jackson State Tigers showdown to sign up more organ donors runs from Oct. 20 through November 14. Southern Miss, MSU and Ole Miss got their campaigns started in mid-September.

Needs for more organ donors are great across Mississippi and the rest of the USA, MORA leaders say.

Over 1,400 Mississippians are in need of living transplants. The number across the nation exceeds 123,000 Americans, reports show.

For more information on becoming an organ donor, contact Becky Pierson of MORA at 601-936-8613 or Mississippi College nursing instructor Mary Ellen Stewart at 601-925-3387 or go to www.msora.org/donorchallenge.