Thousands Celebrate the Gift of Life at 2015 Donor Dash

On July 19^th, Donor Alliance hosted the 16^th Annual Donor Dash at Washington Park in Denver. More than 4,600 registered participants gathered to support and spread awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation. The Donor Dash is a 5K run/walk to honor the lives of organ, eye and tissue donors, celebrate the lives of organ, eye and tissue recipients and recognize those who continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant.

Across the United States, more than 120,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. In Colorado and Wyoming alone, 2,716 people are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. The Donor Dash provides this awareness to the community, allowing others to understand the importance and need for organ, eye and tissue donors; and ultimately encouraging those who are not registered to consider registering. Linda Seavey, liver recipient, expressed her gratitude for registered donors after participating in the Donor Dash. “I am so grateful for people that are selfless and generous and are willing to register to be organ donors. There are people like me, lots of people, that owe their lives to them and I just can’t say how important that is.”

This event provides those directly impacted by transplantation and donation the opportunity to honor, celebrate and recognize their connection with others. Andrea Smith, the Public Relations Director at Donor Alliance, explains the event is about “the camaraderie, the spirit and the celebration of life. Donor families mix in with recipients; it’s that kinship that these families and loved ones feel with each other, it’s unique to any other event.”

The Donor Dash has evolved into one of the largest organ, eye and tissue donation awareness events in Colorado. It occurs annually the third Sunday in July. The 17^th Annual Donor Dash will be Sunday, July 17^th 2016.

Donor Dash is an annual signature event presented by Donor Alliance. Donor Alliance is the federally-designated, Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) accredited, non-profit organ procurement organization serving Colorado and most of Wyoming. As a recognized leader in facilitating the donation and recovery of transplantable organs and tissues, Donor Alliance’s mission is to save lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation.