Facebook gets behind lung transplant recipient's donor campaign

OTTAWA -- An organ donation campaign started by a feisty young Ottawa double-lung transplant recipient now has new friends -- a lot of them.

Facebook is hoping its organ donation tool, which allows users to share their status as organ donors, will help Helene Campbell foster awareness of the cause.

The social media company launched the feature in May in the United States and the U.K., and is now bringing it to Canada.

Since its inception four months ago, the tool has been launched in 12 other countries, and Facebook credits it with attracting 275,000 more people to become donors.

Facebook Canada managing director Jordan Banks says it took until now to launch it in Canada because organ donation falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction.

Campbell, whose social media organ donation campaign caught the attention of celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres and Justin Beiber, says she's excited by the attention Facebook can bring to the cause.

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  Helene Campbell, double-lung transplant recipient smiles during a news conference announcing Facebook would allow users to indicate their donor status in Ottawa, Tuesday Sept. 18, 2012. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)