A weekly gathering of harmonica players is more than just music for Dean Hutto. It’s a reminder he was given a second chance at life. 

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.

On Saturday, April 20, 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 380 Wyomingites at the Tate Pumphouse.

Donor Alliance advocate volunteer Cary Galvin shares her brother’s story with the Casper Star-Tribune on Donor Remembrance Day. Her younger brother, Michael, passed away in 2016 after suffering a brain aneurysm. During this dark time, there was one bright spot. Michael was able to save five lives with the donation of his lungs, heart, and kidneys.

Donors are being honored during the month of April along with their families for National Donate Life Month. On Friday, these donors were acknowledged with a Donate Life Flag Ceremony.

April is National Donate Life Month — a chance to honor and remember those who gave the ultimate gift, while raising awareness about organ and tissue donation. Kristen Adcock lost her middle son, Connor, in October of 2017. Connor would be turning 26 years old this year.

In a vibrant display, buildings across cities and towns in Colorado and Wyoming are lighting up iconic locations with hues of blue and green. So, what’s the story behind it?

Right now, in Wyoming, more than 100 people are waiting and hoping for a life-saving organ transplant. And amid National Donate Life Month, residents across the state and country are being encouraged to boost those hopes by registering as an organ donor.

Donor Alliance and its advocate volunteer, Tony Young who is a heart and kidney recipient, appeared on 9NEWS in the 4pm newscast to raise awareness for National Donate Life Month. Donor Alliance encourages people to order a free #ShineALight kit this month to highlight the need at DonateLifeColorado.org.

Since 2003, Donor Alliance and the nation have been observing April as National Donate Life Month to raise awareness about the importance of registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor.

A horrific crash in Wisconsin 25 years ago took the life of a 16-year-old boy, who then saved and extended the life of a Casper woman with his donated kidney. How she got her borrowed time from the boy still brings tears to her eyes.

A familiar face seen at driver license offices across Colorado shared her heartfelt tribute of receiving the gift of life during a National Donate Life Month flag raising ceremony hosted by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles and Donor Alliance at the Department of Revenue’s main office in Lakewood.