George Marcello made his way into the parking lot of the Springhill Suites in West Warwick, another stop on his 300-city tour to spread awareness of the 100,000 Americans waiting for organ transplants.

The tour began in Alaska on Oct. 23, 2009 and will end Oct. 24, 2011 in Argentina.

Marcello brought with him the Torch of Life, the symbol of his work, and he arrived in the Truck of Life, a converted ambulance driven by volunteer Bob Fairbanks of Lanconia, N.H.

Fairbanks, who works at Mount Washington, said that he was originally only going to volunteer for three days.

“They asked, ‘Do you want to drive for this guy?’ and the next thing I know it’s been 15 or 18 days.”

The hotel’s general manager Fabio Pari greeted George and Bob as they prepared for the ceremonial torch lighting. They were joined by hotel workers and the entire event was broadcast live on the organization’s Web site, stepbystep.ca.

“We jumped at the opportunity to help the organization raise awareness,” said Pari.

As everyone got into place for the lighting, Marcello struggled mightily with the streaming software. He managed to get the camera working just before the staff froze from the chilly February wind. He began searching for a lighter and Fairbanks finally produced one from the truck.

Fairbanks explained that they’re always in need of a lighter.

“I think I bought eight lighters in 14 days.”

Finally the torch was lit and the broadcast went up on the Internet, Marcello smiled and ran his hand through his salt and pepper colored hair. He looked worn but determined.

“This is literally survival at its name,” he said.

After the torch lighting, the workers returned to their posts and everyone else headed inside to begin the press conference. As Marcello began, he paused for the arrival of Bill Pinelli. Bill’s restaurant, Pinelli’s, provided food for the two men the previous night. Marcello said he counts on restaurant owners like Pinelli to provide food for himself and his workers.

This work all began after he was saved by an organ donation. He had thrombosis of the liver, meaning that the arteries going to his liver began to harden, which caused his liver to abscess.

“I had hours left to live.”

He said his near death experience left him with a sense that he had to do more with his life.

“People really have to open their eyes about how important it is to be an organ donor.”

Now he spends his time traveling from city to city talking about his cause and it’s a cause that can affect anyone at anytime.

Here in Rhode Island, 182 people are currently waiting for organ donations, according to the organ procurement and transplantation network. Sixteen of those people have been waiting for transplants for five or more years. Overall in the United States there are 114,222 organs needed for transplantation.

Marcello explained this is why he is doing this work.

“I’m fighting for the over 100,000 Americans in need of a transplant. That’s why I’m traveling through 160 cities.”

He does all of this without money, just depending on the kindness of the community.

This past week the Truck of Life was in need of $1,900 worth of repairs. At first Marcello said he was at a loss for what to do.

“$1,900 literally breaks me.”

That’s when Tasca Ford of Cranston stepped in and donated the parts and labor for the truck.

“The truck was in dire need of everything. They gave six new tires, a serpentine belt and fixed some lights and electrical problems,” said Fairbanks.

Tasca Ford could not be reached for comment.

Marcello said he’s willing to do anything for this cause.

“I mortgaged my house to do this. I’ve almost lost it [his house].”

The truck and the mortgage are just a few bumps on the road for Marcello, who jumped into the truck immediately after the press conference and headed to Rocky Hill School to give a speech to the students. Jane Knowles, public relations officer at Rocky Hill, said that eighth grade student Kaylyn Walsh of East Greenwich carried the torch with the middle school basketball team.

She said Kaylyn became interested in organ donation because one of her young neighbor’s is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant.

“Her neighbor is 3 or 4 years old and is dying.”

This is why Marcello does this work. He believes children are the most important aspect of his work.

“If there’s a child missing, there’s an amber alert. If there’s a kid waiting for an organ, why isn’t there an alert?”

He wants people to know that one person can save up to eight lives (Two lungs, two kidneys, heart, liver, pancreas, small intestines and tissue).

The idea to help children came to Marcello from Pope John Paul II after he blessed the torch on Sept. 5, 2001.

“The Pope said to pass the torch to the youth.”

Now Marcello makes sure the torch makes it into the hands of the youth whenever possible.

The next big step for his organization is to create an awareness month for organ donation.

He is working with the New England Organ Bank to pass legislation that would make April awareness month for organ donation and following that he is working on something in Washington toward the end of March.

“I can’t say much because it’s still pending, but it’s big.”

As he climbed into the ambulance to head off to the next event, he gave one more plea.

“The cure is in education, not money. People are dying every hour and organs are going in the wastebasket. No organ needs to go in the wastebasket.”