By Tove Tupper
 
April 5, 2010
 
MEDFORD, Ore. - The number of people registering to donate organs is on the rise in the Northwest.
 
In Oregon, there are currently 645 people waiting for a transplant, up from 580 people last year.
 
Jim and Lucille Burke of Ashland lost their son Evan five years ago. His heart, liver, one kidney, corneas and tissue were donated.
 
"To us, it's just such a waste to have a person's physical body die and have the organs go to waste when so many people can be saved," Jim Burke said.
 
April is national Donate Life month. The Northwest Donate Life chapter is encouraging people to register to donate, which you can do today. In Oregon, those 13 and older can sign up.