Ron Boris wore his favorite shirt to a Schuylkill County commissioners meeting Wednesday.

The shirt was printed with “I never dreamed I’d grow up to be a super cool heart transplant recipient, but here I am!”

Underneath Boris’ shirt beats the heart of Eddie Bates of Marydel, Delaware, who passed away suddenly of a brain aneurysm in 2009 at 31.

Boris, of Pottsville, is forever grateful for the gift that saved his life. On Wednesday, he joined commissioners in proclaiming April as “Donate Life Month.”

He promised Bates he would use his gift of life to encourage people to register to be organ donors.

“I appreciate what you do by recognizing that as of the 25th of this month, I’ll be 17 years with a heart transplant and going strong,” he said.

“And please, if you’re not an organ donor, please consider it. I’m just one of you who was lucky enough to get it. It means a lot, a lot of people out there still waiting, waiting, waiting for it,” Boris said.

Pottsville City Hall is flying a Donate Life flag, and has the building lit in blue and green to acknowledge the month, he said.

“Please consider being an organ donor. That’s all I can ask anybody to do. I’m living proof it works, and you don’t have to be rich, because I’m far from that,” he said.

Boris spoke of being able to participate in the annual Transplant Games, and of his work to encourage people to sign up to be organ donors.

“I honor my donor. And what better way can I do it?” He said.

People can register to be an organ donor at their local state Department of Motor Vehicles or by visiting www.donors1.org.

Boris’ efforts to get the word out is working.

When he started, “We were at about 50 percent (of county residents to register). Now, I can honestly say we’re at 75% organ donation for the whole Schuylkill County.”

His next goal is to reach 80%.

The goal is important. According to the proclamation, more than 103,000 Americans are waiting for donor organs. An average of 17 of those die each day because organs weren’t gifted in time to save them.