Cobertura Reciente en los Medios
National DMV Appreciation Month: Celebrating Partners Making a Difference
September was National DMV Appreciation Month. Earlier this year, many driver license offices across the country were closed for COVID-19 safety reasons. To allow more time to recognize and support our DMV partners, Donate life America extended National DMV Appreciation Week to the entire month of September. We spent the month celebrating our Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Driver License Office partners in Colorado and Driver Services partners in Wyoming. Their commitment to supporting our mission to save lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation is vital in building the incredible amount of support we see in our region.
The Impact
The number of organ transplants in the U.S. has increased every year for seven years. This is a remarkable, lifesaving achievement. So much so that this month, Alex Azar of the Department of Health and Human Services sent a letter thanking DMV employees for their critical role in registering the American public to be organ donors.
Additionally, in 2019, Colorado once again earned the top spot in the nation for highest Donor Designation Rate (DDR). Wyoming also jumped to 3rd in the nation. These achievements simply wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the hard work, dedication and strong partnership between Donor Alliance and the team members at the DMV and Driver Services.
How We Celebrated (and YOU can too!)
We showed appreciation for Driver License partners by thanking the hard-working staff and leadership through local events and outreach. Here are some photos from our visits:
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We participated in a special podcast with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) to discuss driver licensing partners, Donate Life America and organ, eye and tissue donation. Check out the AAMVAcast here.
We're also very excited to have been a part of several award presentations celebrating the work of the remarkable DMV and Driver Services team members throughout the month.
Renee Krawiec, Deputy Program Manager, Wyoming Department of Transportation & Driver Services, was selected as the Donate Life America DMV Innovation Award winner both nationally and for AAMVA Region 4.
Renee championed the implementation of online education training on organ, eye and tissue donation for all Driver Services staff. Collaborating with Driver Services, Donor Alliance developed the new digital training module and achieved a 100% completion rate - showing the commitment of Wyoming Driver Services to understanding the facts of donation and transplantation and saving lives.
La Junta driver license manager, Christina Salas was awarded the Donate Life America Lifesaver Award for AAMVA Region IV.
Christina was presented the award in recognition of the positive changes she affected in her community. She went beyond her duties in helping raise awareness for donation and transplantation after the tragic death of a local teenager she had advised at the La Junta Driver License Office.
It’s Not Too Late to Show Your Appreciation, Too!
- Reach out to your local Driver License office and thank them! To find the location nearest you, click here for Colorado and here for Wyoming.
- Post a positive comment on their social media pages: Facebook- @ColoradoRevenue @WyomingDeptofTransportation (please mention Driver Services); twitter- @CO_Revenue
- Write a letter expressing your appreciation for all that they do! Share your connection to donation & transplantation with the staff. To find the address for the location nearest you, click here for Colorado and here for Wyoming.
Say Yes to organ, eye and tissue donation every time you renew or obtain your driver license or state ID. You can also sign up online anytime at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.
Prevenir el Rechazo de Órganos y Tejidos
Uno de los últimos problemas que un paciente o su familia quieren preocuparse después de recibir un trasplante de órganos o tejidos es si el trasplante será rechazado. Sin embargo, es importante reconocer que el rechazo no es lo mismo que perder el órgano o tejido trasplantado, y las tasas de supervivencia de los órganos siguen mejorando. Sigue leyendo para obtener más información sobre el rechazo de trasplantes de órganos y tejidos, estadísticas de rechazo y cómo promover la tolerancia a los órganos y tejidos.
Estadísticas de rechazo de trasplantes de órganos y tejidos:
Cada sistema inmunológico reacciona de manera diferente a los órganos trasplantados, por lo que no hay una fórmula establecida para determinar si un órgano será rechazado por tu cuerpo o no. Sin embargo, continuamente se desarrollan nuevos medicamentos para reducir el riesgo de rechazo del trasplante en los pacientes. Con estos nuevos medicamentos, las tasas de rechazo son tan bajas como el 10-15 % de los pacientes y la supervivencia del órgano trasplantado a un año ha mejorado al 95%. En la actualidad, el rechazo del tejido es poco común.
Lee mas sobre las preguntas Frecuentes de la Donación aquí
¿Por qué ocurre el rechazo de órganos y tejidos?
El rechazo de órganos y tejidos ocurre porque el sistema inmunológico es capaz de reconocer los trasplantes como algo extraño al cuerpo. Normalmente, se perciben las entidades extrañas como amenazas, y en el caso de virus, bacterias o parásitos, ¡esto es algo bueno! Reconocer y destruir rápidamente la infección evita que se desarrollen síntomas graves.
En el caso de los trasplantes, debemos engañar al sistema inmunológico para que tolere un objeto extraño en el cuerpo. Es importante destacar que con cada trasplante, hay algún nivel de "rechazo" del sistema inmunológico, pero en la mayoría de los casos, el grado de rechazo no será clínicamente significativo. Aunque el rechazo de tejidos es bastante poco común, aún existe un bajo riesgo de rechazo en el caso de los trasplantes de órganos. Afortunadamente, hay muchas formas diferentes en que los equipos de atención médica y los pacientes pueden reducir el riesgo de rechazo tanto antes como después de un trasplante de órganos.
¿Cómo se Podemos Prevenir y Promover la Tolerancia Inmunológica de un Trasplante?
El rechazo de órganos puede clasificarse de dos maneras: rechazo agudo y rechazo crónico. El rechazo agudo generalmente ocurre al menos dentro del primer año después del trasplante, si ocurre. El rechazo crónico ocurre a lo largo de meses o años, llevando a la pérdida lenta de la función del órgano, generalmente sin culpa del paciente siempre y cuando se tome la medicación contra el rechazo de manera consistente.
- Para reducir las posibilidades de rechazo del trasplante y pérdida del mismo, se toman los siguientes pasos antes de que ocurra el trasplante:
- Asegurarse de que el receptor y el donante tengan tipos de sangre compatibles.
- Realizar pruebas genéticas para garantizar coincidencias compatibles entre el receptor y el donante.
En el caso de donantes vivos, se prefieren órganos de familiares.
Los siguientes pasos se pueden tomar después de que ocurra el trasplante:
Los resultados de laboratorio deben monitorearse con frecuencia durante el primer año después del trasplante.
- Se deben tomar consistentemente medicamentos contra el rechazo, según las indicaciones del equipo de trasplante.
- Se pueden recetar diferentes medicamentos para reducir los efectos secundarios adversos.
- Los receptores de órganos también deben ser educados sobre los posibles signos de rechazo del órgano y alertar a su proveedor de atención médica si experimentan alguno de los siguientes síntomas.
¿Interesado en más datos sobre la donación de órganos y tejidos?
¡Regístrate para recibir nuestro boletín bimestral utilizando el formulario haciendo click al formulario al pie de de esta pagina!
Fuentes:
Staff Spotlight: Colin Larkin
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Colin with his wife, Julie.[/caption]
We’re so proud to work with each and every one of our staff members here at Donor Alliance. In our Staff Spotlight, we like to take a minute to share who we are and why we work at Donor Alliance. In this month's staff spotlight, meet Colin Larkin, a Regional Donation Consultant based in Grand Junction. In that role, Colin partners with hospitals on the Western Slope to help facilitate the donation process through education and continued partnership.
This Month's Staff Spotlight is on Colin Larkin:
Name: Colin Larkin
Position: Regional Donation Consultant - Grand Junction
Years at Donor Alliance: 12 years
Tell us a little about your role with Donor Alliance: In my role as Regional Donation Consultant I have several responsibilities. I partner with hospitals on the Western Slope with respect to their role in the donation process. This relationship is developed through education and working with hospital staff to ensure that we maximize every donation opportunity. I also have been asked to speak about organ and tissue donation within the larger community. Often, I work with donor families in the local hospitals to help them honor their loved one’s decision to help others through donation.
What made you want to work for Donor Alliance? Prior to working for Donor Alliance, I participated in a hospital chaplain residency. In this role I was exposed to the great work of Donor Alliance. I was impressed by Donor Alliance’s mission to save lives through organ and tissue donation and felt my background in chaplaincy and medical research would be a good fit for advancing that mission.
What do you enjoy most about your role/what’s the most rewarding aspect of your role? Guiding donor families through the donation process is the most rewarding work I have ever done in my life. It is a humbling privilege to walk with families through their grief in the hopes of helping others through donation.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do for fun? Living on the Western Slope of Colorado is a wonderful fit for my wife, Julie, and me. We love to hike with our dogs, cross country ski on the Grand Mesa, and take our teardrop camper up into the surrounding mountains and desert.
What piece of advice would you give your younger self? I would tell myself to hold on to plans for the future loosely and to always try and be present and grateful for every day that I have in the work I do and for the time I have with family and friends.
Thanks for reading our staff spotlight!
Advocate Spotlight: Kristen Atkinson
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Kristen with her husband, Tim.[/caption]
Donor Alliance volunteers and advocates are the heart and soul of our efforts to inspire and inform our community about the importance of signing up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor in Colorado and Wyoming. Each of our volunteers and advocates has their own unique and inspiring story to tell. In this advocate spotlight, meet Kristen Atkinson, a recipient's wife and caregiver from Firestone, CO.
Get to Know Kristen Atkinson in this Month's Advocate Spotlight:
What's your favorite thing about volunteering at Donor Alliance? I love giving back to an organization and a cause that’s given me so much. My husband wouldn’t be here today without organ donation. I enjoy meeting people who don’t know how the process works, and also meeting those that know far more than I do. It’s been such an engaging experience all the way around.
What is your proudest accomplishment? Going back to college. I’ve never gotten a degree, but it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do. It’s been slow going but has been a lot of fun! I love learning new things.
What is the last book you read or movie you saw? Would you recommend it? Avengers: Endgame. It was great! The Marvel universe is so different, and we loved watching all the movies.
If you could take an all-expenses paid vacation, where would you go? Probably Alaska. There’s so many National Parks I would love to see up there, and glaciers and northern lights are things I’ve always wanted to see.
What are some of your favorite hobbies? My husband and I do 5K charity runs pretty frequently. I also like doing crafts, like jewelry making, knitting, and journaling. I also like reading.
What song would you sing at karaoke night? I’m definitely not a good singer – so anything where I’m not the only person on the stage!
If you could have any super power for 24 hours, what would it be? I’d want the ability to change anything about anyone. Imagine all the good things you could do for people in 24 hours!
What's your favorite holiday and why? Halloween! I love the costumes and the fun of the Halloween. And I loved dressing up and candy as a kid. Okay, even still as an adult. 😊
What's your favorite season and why? 100% Fall. I love the cooler weather.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? “Remember who you are.” Sometimes it’s hard to remember who we are, especially in hard situations. If I step back and take a moment to remember who I am, my perspective often changes.
Book Discussion: “The Organ Thieves” – Lessons Learned, Shaping the Future Actions within Donation & Transplantation
With the recent publication of the book The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South, we must acknowledge the past transgressions within the healthcare system and donation and transplantation field in the United States.
The Organ Thieves is about Bruce Tucker, a Black man who suffered a head injury in 1968 and was taken to a top research hospital in Virginia to be treated. Tucker passed away from his injury and hospital staff moved forward with recovering his organs for donation, and he became the first heart donor in the segregated South. The book highlights how hospital staff failed to communicate with Tucker’s family and get proper authorization before going forward with the donation process, a continuation of medical practices that marginalized and mistreated Black people at the time.
Woven into the history of donation and transplantation in the U.S. is a painful reality of the injustices people of color have faced. We must learn from past experiences and use them to inform future actions. Here we take a look at how the system has evolved since the Bruce Tucker case outlined in The Organ Thieves.
The Organ Donation Process Today: Authorization
Our mission at Donor Alliance is to save lives through organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation. It is our duty as a federally-designated organ procurement organization to ensure organ donation is optimized and executed in the fairest and most ethical manner possible.
We’re committed to saving and healing lives through our work, regardless of background, race or ethnicity. This hasn’t always been the case in our field or in medicine at large, which is why processes have been put in place to ensure transparency and stringency in the authorization process.
Today, we have discussions with each family of a potential organ donor to make sure that they are in-the-know and to ensure that their loved one’s decision is honored.
The following authorization process is followed during every case, regardless of the race of the donor:
- Local organ procurement organization (OPO) personnel are notified that a potential donor faces imminent brain death or has passed away.
- OPO personnel search the registry database for the potential donor.
- If the potential donor is identified within the database as a registered donor, the family is notified of their loved one’s donor designation status.
- If the potential donor is not registered as a donor at the time of death, his or her family can give authorization for their loved one to be a donor. The donation process proceeds only after the family has granted authorization.
- A medical evaluation then takes place, including obtaining complete medical and social history from the family.
Authorization and the family discussion are just one step of the organ donation process, and happens separately and independently from the diagnosis of the patient and the declaration of death.
Apart from a fair and transparent allocation process, we work to ensure education about donation and transplantation is accessible to people of color in our region, including outreach targeted at the Black community in particular.
Looking for more facts on donation and transplantation? Visit our Colorado facts page or our Wyoming facts page.
To sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor, simply say Yes at the DMV or driver license office the next time you obtain or renew your license or state I.D. You can also sign up anytime online at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.
Is Coronavirus a Rule-out for Organ Transplants?
When it comes to rule outs for organ transplants, it's important to get the facts, especially when discussing coronavirus and other diseases.
Active coronavirus continues to be a rule out for both organ and tissue donors as well as recipients. However, once recovered, donation and transplantation are both possible, as is the case with many other viral illnesses.
Exposure Does Not Prevent Future Donation: Recovered Coronavirus Patients May Be Eligible to be Organ Donors
A person who is through the acute phase of the disease may be eligible for organ donation now and in the future. Just
as with other viral diseases, like the flu or Epstein Barr, historical exposure is not a rule out for donation.
Anyone, regardless of age, lifestyle or medical condition, can sign up to be a donor. Patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hepatitis and cancer can also potentially save and heal lives through donation. Eligibility for organ, eye and tissue donation is medically evaluated at the time of death. Even donors who are HIV+ may now be eligible to be organ donors through the Hope Act.
Please do not rule yourself out. If you support organ, eye and tissue donation, we encourage you to sign up to be donor now and let the medical professionals determine eligibility at that time.
Only Active COVID-19 is Currently a Medical Rule-out
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Picture Courtesy: CDC[/caption]
With no existing treatment or cure, acute or active COVID-19 is currently a medical rule out for both organ and tissue donation. However, as with many other illnesses, medical science is likely to change that over time and even active coronavirus is not expected to be a rule out for donation in coming years, much like the flu.
The decision to utilize donor organs ultimately rests with transplant surgeons who manage complex decisions around patient care.
Living Organ Donation
The information on this page pertains to deceased organ donation. Living donation is facilitated directly through the transplant centers. Please contact one of the four transplant centers in our area for more information.
COVID-19 Information and Resources
- United Network for Organ Sharing information regarding COVID-19
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- The American Society of Transplantation: COVID-19 information for transplant recipients, candidates and professionals
- The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO): COVID-19 Bulletin
- Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN): Information for transplant programs and OPOs regarding 2019 Novel Coronavirus
- American Association of Tissue Banks: COVID-19 Updates
- State of Colorado Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Wyoming COVID-19 Info & Updates
- Wyoming Department of Health
Programa La Ciencia del Trasplante en el Podcast The Gifted Life
¿Has escuchado el episodio sobre La Ciencia del Trasplante en el Podcast Gifted Life? Estamos muy emocionados por que nuestro programa escolar educativo Transplantation Science o “La Ciendia del Transplante” y sus logros fueron compartidos en un episodio del podcast The Gifted Life, producido por Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA). Escucha el episodio aquí.
Ken, educador de Transplantation Science comparte su historia
El educador del programa La ciencia del trasplante o Transplanatation Science Ken Turnipseed, también conocido como “Mr. T” ha estado 
enseñando a los estudiantes sobre la importancia de la donación y los trasplantes de órganos y tejidos durante más de 10 años. El podcast comienza con Ken contando su historia sobre cómo no fue alguien que apoyaba la donación mientras crecía y la experiencia que lo hizo cambiar de opinión. Ken comparte: "Lo único que nos dijeron absolutamente fue ... no lo hagas". No fue hasta mucho más tarde en la vida, cuando su hermano necesitó un trasplante de corazón, que Ken se dio cuenta de la importancia de la donación de órganos y tejidos y de la información errónea que había estado compartiendo con los demás. “Convertirme [en un educador de la ciencia del trasplante] fue una oportunidad para aliviar parte de mi culpa, pero al mismo tiempo corregir [lo que había hecho] por todas las personas a las que había influenciado negativamente a través de los años”, dice Ken.
Transplantation Science: Un Programa Gratuito de Donor Alliance
Transplantation Science aparece en el podcast de Gifted Life justo a tiempo para el nuevo año escolar. Transplantation Science o la Ciencia del Trasplante es un programa escolar gratuito para los grados 6-12 destinado a mejorar cualquier programa de anatomía, salud o biología e introducir a los estudiantes en el campo de la donación y el trasplante de órganos, ojos y tejidos. Traemos muestras de órganos plastinados y otros materiales al salón de clases para que los estudiantes puedan tener una experiencia práctica. También nos complace anunciar que nuestro plan de estudios digital ya está disponible.
¡Agosto el Mes Nacional para la Concientización de la Donación en Grupos Minoritarios!
Compartimos este episodio durante el Mes Nacional para la Concientización de la Donación en Grupos Minoritarios, una celebración que tiene como objetivo ayudar a salvar y sanar las vidas de comunidades diversas al incrementar la compresión sobre la donación de órganos, ojos y tejidos en todos los grupos étnicos. La vida de cientos de personas que esperan un trasplante dependen de otras personas en nuestra comunidad. ¿Sabías que, aunque la compatibilidad de los órganos no se determina según la raza o el origen étnico los trasplantes realizados entre personas del mismo grupo étnico pueden ser más compatibles y exitosas? Esa es una de las razones por las que es tan importante que más personas que pertenecen a comunidades de color se registren para ser donantes.
Transplantation Science on The Gifted Life Podcast
Have you listened to the episode about Transplantation Science on the Gifted Life Podcast? We are so excited to share that our Transplantation Science program has been featured as an episode on The Gifted Life podcast, produced by Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA). You can listen to the episode here.
Transplantation Science Educator Ken Turnipseed, aka “Mr. T,” has been teaching students about the importance of organ and tissue donation and transplantation for over 10 years. The podcast begins with Ken telling his story about how he was not a proponent for donation while he was growing up and the experience that changed his mind. Ken shares, “The one thing we were absolutely told was…do not do it.” It wasn’t until much later in life, when his brother needed a heart transplant that Ken realized the importance of organ and tissue donation and the misinformation he had been sharing with others. “Becoming [a Transplantation Science educator] was a chance for me to alleviate some of my guilt but at the same time make amends for all of the people I had influenced negatively over time,” Ken says.
Transplantation Science - a free Donor Alliance program
Transplantation Science is featured on the Gifted Life podcast just in time for the new school year! Transplantation Science is a free school curriculum program for grades 6-12 meant to enhance any anatomy, health or biology program and to introduce students to the field of organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation. We bring plastinated organ specimens and other materials into the classroom so students can have a hands-on experience. We are also excited to announce that our digital curriculum is now available.
It's National Minority Donor Awareness Month!
We are featuring this story during National Minority Donor Awareness Month, an observance that aims to help save and heal the lives of diverse communities by growing understanding of organ, eye, and tissue donation across all ethnicities. The lives of those waiting for a lifesaving transplant depends on others in our community. Did you know transplant matches made within ethnic groups can be more compatible? That is one of the reasons it’s important for more people in our communities of color to sign up to be donors.
Learn why it is important that more people in all communities sign up as donors and what you can do to help! ?
Denver Business Journal Names Donor Alliance 2020 Best Place to Work
We are proud to announce Donor Alliance has been named a 2020 Best Place to Work by Denver Business Journal, ranking 13th in the extra-large company (100-249 employees) category. We were honored in a virtual awards celebration last night alongside 64 other outstanding organizations across the Denver metro area.
This honor is especially meaningful to us because it is judged by the people that know our organization best, our employees. Our team members were asked to complete an online survey conducted by Quantum Workplace, measures our organization’s culture on everything from benefits to trust in leadership. Responses were then compiled, evaluated and ranked by Quantum based on their composite score.
As a recognized leader in organ and tissue donation, our organization fosters a mission-driven culture through our core values: Integrity, Leadership, Excellence, Accountability and People First. In addition to traditional health benefits as well as other offerings like our wellness program, tuition and health club reimbursement and a charitable contribution program, Donor Alliance also offers employees something much more extraordinary: the opportunity to help save lives every day.
In addition to achieving this recognition, Donor Alliance has also been awarded Top Workplace status by The Denver Post for the last six consecutive years and was recognized as Best at Making Work Meaningful in 2019. Donor Alliance also received Quantum’s 2019 Employee Voice Award, honoring organizations for outstanding work in employee engagement.
We are honored to be recognized by our local business community, and thank all of the amazing staff and volunteers who make Donor Alliance such an amazing place to work!
For more information on our culture or careers at Donor Alliance, visit DonorAlliance.org/who-we-are/careers/.
2020 Donor Dash: Thousands Honor, Celebrate & Recognize Together, Though Apart
While the 2020 Donor Dash looked a bit different this time around, thousands from across the country still gathered together, though apart to honor the lives of organ and tissue donors, celebrate the lives of organ and tissue recipients and recognize those who continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant.
This year, the Donor Dash transitioned to a week-long celebration of life that people from across the country could participate in from the safety of their own homes, cars, yards and neighborhoods! Take a look back at how we all took part in the 2020 Donor Dash… Together, Though Apart.
Drive-through Packet Pick-Up Party, July 12
Our week-long celebration of life kicked off on Sunday, July 12 at our first ever Drive-through Packet Pick-up Party! One by one, hundreds of participating team captains and individuals drove their cars through our Donor Alliance Spruce Street office parking lot to grab their honorary signs and race packets. It was great seeing everyone, even if smiles were hidden by masks and we had to say “hello” from afar!
*Reminder, for those who weren’t able to pick up their packets or are waiting for their shirts/masks, we will mail them out as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience!*
Donor Dash Week, July 12-19
Every day throughout the week we had an activity for folks to participate in at home or on our Donate Life Colorado social media channels! From Move it Monday to Thankful Thursday, we had hundreds of people participate, share their story and who they were dashing for throughout the week.
See some of the highlights from our Facebook posts: Move it Monday, Team Tuesday and UCHealth Favorite Friday
Wash Park Car Parade, July 18
Participants decorated their cars with blue and green Donate Life colors and drove through Wash Park to honor, celebrate and recognize their loved ones. Along the way, honorary signs displaying heroic donors, grateful recipients and courageous living donors, lined the route for all to see and honor. Thank you to the folks that participated in our first ever Wash Park Car Parade, you helped make it such an amazing success!
Donor Dash Virtual 5k, July 19
The week-long schedule of events all led to the virtual 5k run for life on Sunday, July 19. While we weren’t all able to gather in Denver’s Washington Park this year as usual, we still had 3,443 people register and 161 teams participate. This year, folks from across the country were able to participate in their own state! We had participants stretch from the East to the West coast this year, honoring the heroic donor in their life.
Thank you to everyone that registered this year and helped us celebrate the gift of life!
Team Spotlight: Who Are You Dashing For?
Did you know that nearly 80% of participants are part of a Donor Dash team? Teams are a very important part of the event year after year. This year, we were honored to have several Donor Dash team captains share who they were dashing for. Take a look:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXfLXxZw9BE
Thank you again to this year’s participants, sponsors and volunteers for making the 21st Annual Donor Dash… Together, Though Apart such a success. In case you missed the live-streamed program on Sunday, July 19, give it a watch below! You can also view more event photos on our Facebook page or in our Flickr album. Be sure to save the date for next year’s Donor Dash on Sunday, July 18, 2021!
Remember, you can show your support year-round by saying Yes to organ, eye and tissue donation and sharing your decision with your loved ones. Sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor any time at DonateLifeColorado.org.
https://vimeo.com/439735735
2020 Donor Dash – Together, Though Apart: Everything You Need to Know Before the Event
Get ready for the 2020 Donor Dash! On Sunday, July 12, Donor Dash Week officially kicks-off marking the beginning of the 21st Annual Donor Dash 5K run/walk! This year, thousands will join virtually to show their support for organ, eye and tissue donation at the 21st Donor Dash.
While this year's event will look difference and we are sad we can’t all be together like usual, we’ve planned some new and meaningful ways to honor the lives of organ and tissue donors, celebrate the lives of transplant recipients and recognize those who continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant. Here is everything you need to know to prepare for the event and make the most of your Donor Dash experience- Together, Though Apart!
But First, Have You Registered for the 2020 Donor Dash?
If you haven't, the good news is that you can still register online through the deadline. Check out the registration deadlines below:
- Early registration for teams and individuals closes on Friday, July 10 at 5:59 p.m.
Individual late registration closes on Friday, July 17 at 5:59 p.m. Individuals have until Friday, July 17 sign up to participate in the Donor Dash 5K race! Please note this option is only available for individual participants. Donor Dash teams must register by the July 10 deadline.
Also, anyone wishing to pick up their packet early at the Drive-Through Pick-Up Party must register by the Friday, July 10 deadline. All participants must register online this year.
Friday, July 10 is the Last Day to Join a Team!
If you have already registered, if you're interested in joining a team, this is your last 
chance to do so online! Online team registration & early packet pick-up option closes on Friday, July 10 at 5:59 p.m.! You can also join a team by emailing us at DonorDash@donoralliance.org before 5:59 p.m. on Friday, July 10. As a reminder, we are unable to make changes to teams after the deadline, so make sure to join your team before it too late. Team captains, this is a reminder to check your team roaster before the deadline.
Drive-Through Packet Pick-up Party on Sunday, July 12 from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Come say hello and pick up your packets at the Drive-Through Packet Pick-up Party event at 200 Spruce Street in Denver! This event will honor social distancing guidelines as you will not be able to get out of your car when you are picking up your Donor Dash items. In order to pick up packets at the Pick-Up party on Sunday, July 12, you must have registered prior to 5:59 p.m. on Friday, July 10.
Also, a few things to remember:
- Garden signs: All new and previously ordered signs will be available for pick-
up at the Packet Pick-Up event. If you're unable to pick up your sign, please e-mail donordash@donoralliance.org. - Team captains: Don’t forget, it is your responsibility to pick up and disseminate your team’s packets and honorary signs. Team packets can also be picked up by a team designee.
- Team captains with teams of less than 10 people: Your packets will be in individual packet pick up. You can still pick up for your entire team or unclaimed packets will be mailed.
Check the Schedule of Events for more info on Packet Pick-Up. We look forward to seeing you there!
Join us for Donor Dash Week!
Don't forget to join us Together, Though Apart for Donor Dash Week to honor, celebrate and recognize all week long! Make sure to show your support for organ, eye and tissue donation by sharing a picture of your garden signs or team on your social channels with #DonorDash and #WhoAreYouDashingFor. Check out the Donor Dash Week Activities here!
Tune in to the Donor Dash LIVE Program!
Join those touched by organ, eye and tissue donation and tune in to the 21st Annual 
Donor Dash Together, Though Apart’s live-streamed program.
The program will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 19 following the virtual 5k event. Join us online here or on our Facebook or YouTube for our live, virtual program.
Thank you so much for your support of the 2020 Donor Dash and organ, eye & tissue donation. We can't wait to see you, Together, Though Apart! For any additional information, visit our Donor Dash FAQs page.
How to Talk with Your Kids About Organ and Tissue Donation
As a parent, how can you talk with your kids about organ, eye and tissue donation? We know it can be difficult to start this conversation, and it can be even more challenging when the conversation is between you and your kids. To help make starting that conversation a bit easier, we’re breaking down when and how to best talk to your teens about what signing up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor means and how one goes about making that decision.
So, What does Signing up as an Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Mean?
Signing up as an organ, eye, and tissue donor means you have made the decision to donate your organs, eyes, and tissues at the time of your death. As an adult, your decision to be a donor takes priority over your family’s preferences, so be sure and discuss your decision with loved ones. This is why it's important for parents to have a conversation with their kids about donation. Our Donation Frequently Asked Questions page is a great resource for parents to learn more about the donation process and feel confident tackling the questions that may come up.
Talk with your Kids about Organ and Tissue Donation as they Get Ready to Apply for a Driver Permit or License. 
Colorado and Wyoming residents can sign up to be organ, eye and tissue donors when obtaining or renewing their driver license or state ID, either in person or online. In Colorado, you can sign up at the driver's license office by saying Yes to organ, eye, and tissue donation, and in Wyoming, by checking Yes. When an individual signs up as a donor and receives their driver's permit, driver's license, or state ID, there will be a heart with a ‘Y’ inside it. The ‘Y’ is a symbol of your confirmation of saying Yes to organ, eye, and tissue donation.
What You Need to Know as a Parent or Legal Guardian
As their parent or legal guardian, you will have to sign in order to give consent for your teen to register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor. Once they turn 18, their decision will become a first-person authorization as other adults. This is a great time to ensure they understand the importance of and facts around donation. Most importantly, signing up to be a donor means you have made the decision to save lives by donating eligible organs, eyes, and tissues at the time of death.
How to Start the Conversation and Prepare Your Teen to Make a Decision Before Their Driver License Office Visit:
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- Use your driver license to start the conversation and talk with your kids about organ and tissue donation.
- If you have a heart on your license: Many of our volunteers have shared that they started the conversation with their teens because their child asked them why there was a heart on it. Turn the question around and ask your teen if they know why there is a heart on the license. This is a great conversation starter.
- If you don’t have a heart but are registered: Your driver's license is still a great prop to use to begin the conversation. Explain why there isn’t a heart on your license, how or when you registered, and what you intend to do the next time you renew your
license. - If you aren’t registered: Ask your teen if they have seen a heart on a driver's license and if they know what that means. Talk about what your decision is and why.
- Share a story about organ or tissue donation or transplantation.
- If you know someone who is a recipient: Share the story of a family member, friend, co-worker, neighbor or someone else you know who received an organ or tissue transplant. Did you know that many tissue grafts are used in different reconstructive surgeries, such as ACL replacement, skin grafts for burn patients, and coronary bypass? You may know someone who is a recipient and not even know it!
- If you know someone who was a donor: Share the story of donation and how a loved one saved lives. This is the most impactful way for teens to understand why organ and tissue donation is life-saving.
- Read our stories of hope: Organ and tissue transplants are life-saving, and our volunteers have shared why.
- Use the resources on our websites:
- Use your driver license to start the conversation and talk with your kids about organ and tissue donation.
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