In honor of legendary running back Walter Payton, who died of a liver ailment in 1999 while waiting for an organ donor, the Chicago Bears remain committed to helping those individuals who suffer from a similar fate through the support of organ donation programs.

Youth for Life: Remembering Walter Payton is a non-profit campaign committed to educating young adults about the life-giving gift of organ donation. The program encourages young people to talk about the importance of organ donation and become an organ donor when they receive their first driver's license. On October 22, 2002 players from NFL teams across the country along with transplant recipients will conduct school forums on the subject of organ donation. A video created by NFL Films will also be aired to educate children about organ donation. School forums will continue through the month of November.

Safety Larry Whigham is scheduled to appear on Tuesday, October 22 at St. Viator High School (1213 E. Oakton St.) in Arlington Heights at 10:00 a.m.

The concept of the program was developed last year by four high school students, Erin Kinsella, John McCaskey, Brittney Payton and Mark Pendleton (shown below), because of their shared loved for life and deep admiration for the Bears great.

The founders met with Senator Richard Durbin in Washington, DC in Spring 2001 to discuss their program and ask for his support. Senator Durbin together with Senators Frist, Allen and Kennedy proposed Senate Congressional Resolution 63 in support of the work of the YFL. Concurrently, Representatives Largent and Brown introduced House Congressional Resolution 207 supporting the program. Both Resolutions were passed by Congress on July 31, 2001.

For more information about the Youth for Life: Remembering Walter Payton program, please call 847/739-5325 or visit www.yflnfl.org.