Donor Dash Brings Wyomingites Together to Celebrate the Gift of Life
April 20 2024 - 11:00AM
Business Wire
Annual 5K run/walk honors, celebrates &
recognizes those impacted by donation
Today, Donor Alliance, the nonprofit organization that
facilitates organ and tissue donation for transplantation in most
of Wyoming and Colorado, hosted its annual Wyoming Donor Dash with
more than 330 Wyomingites at Tate Pumphouse. Supported by Banner
Wyoming Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank, the
annual 5K run/walk is held in April during National Donate Life
Month to raise awareness about the importance of donation.
The 2024 Wyoming Donor Dash honored heroic organ and tissue
donors and their families, celebrated the lives of transplant
recipients, and recognized those who continue to wait for a
lifesaving and healing transplant. Currently, nearly 150
Wyomingites are waiting for an organ transplant and thousands more
are in need of a tissue transplant, which provides hope to those
suffering from injury, disease, trauma or blindness.
“It’s remarkable to see the number of lives saved and healed in
Wyoming through the gift of life,” said Jennifer Prinz, president
and CEO, Donor Alliance. “Last year, the generosity of 307 heroic
organ donors across Wyoming and Colorado provided 918 organ
transplants. In addition, 1,703 tissue donors in the region
provided more than 100-thousand tissue grafts to those in need.
Wyomingites understand the importance of helping their neighbors
and helping their community when they say, ‘yes’ to be an organ,
eye and tissue donor at Driver Services.”
At the 2024 Wyoming Donor Dash, Donor Alliance was honored to
host Casper residents Cary Galvin, donor sister, and heart
recipient, Jason Wynia. Both Cary and Jason are Donor Alliance
advocate for life volunteers who connect Wyomingites to the mission
by sharing their stories to inspire residents to register as an
organ, eye and tissue donor.
- Cary Galvin, donor sister: Cary’s younger brother,
Michael, passed away in 2016 after suffering a brain aneurysm. His
death was completely unexpected, and his family was left with
sudden, overwhelming grief, but during the darkest time of their
lives, there was one bright spot. Michael was able to save five
lives with the donation of his lungs, heart and kidneys.
- Jason Wynia, heart recipient: Jason received a heart
transplant in 2010 after having an unusual strain of pneumonia that
led to congestive heart failure. Following his transplant, Jason
was on the road to a full recovery within a matter of weeks. He’s
thankful every day and works to honor his donor by keeping their
memory alive, lending a helping hand whenever he can.
“At Banner Health, we’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact
organ, eye and tissue donation can have on the lives of those in
our community like Cary and Jason. Because of that impact, Wyoming
Donor Dash is much more than just a race; it serves as a powerful
symbol of hope and a celebration of life,” said Lance Porter, CEO,
Banner Wyoming Medical Center. “As we come together to honor the
generosity of heroic donors and their families, we are also
reminded of the many patients still waiting on a transplant.
Raising awareness of the importance of donation and the critical
need for more donors is a community effort, and together, we can
make a profound difference.”
Throughout April, Wyomingites have been coming together to share
the importance of Donor Alliance’s mission of saving and healing
lives. Cities and towns have been proclaiming April as “Donate Life
Month.” Famous local spots including the iconic oil derrick and the
Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center on the University of Wyoming
campus have been illuminated in blue and green, the colors of
Donate Life. Many hospitals and organizations across the region
have also been raising Donate Life flags to honor the gift of life.
For more information, please visit DonorAlliance.org/ndlm.
About Donor Alliance
Donor Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving
and healing lives through organ and tissue donation for
transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming. As a federally
designated organ procurement organization – one of 56 in the U.S. –
Donor Alliance serves more than 6.3 million residents and more than
120 hospitals. Donor Alliance walks alongside the family during the
organ recovery process and ensures their loved one’s gifts are
safely received at transplant centers in a timely manner. Donor
Alliance also facilitates tissue donation to save and heal more
lives across our community. In addition, the organization maintains
partnerships with hospitals and manages the Donate Life Colorado
and Donate Life Wyoming donor registries, which are symbols of the
cause. Through Donate Life, Donor Alliance educates residents on
the lifesaving benefits of donation, inspiring them to register.
For more information, please visit DonorAlliance.org.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240420464285/en/
Media Contact: Heather Burke, Donor Alliance 720-689-9379
hburke@donoralliance.org