Donation Essentials Blog

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.

donor-dash-team-packet-pickup

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!

donor-dash-packet-pick-up

*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

wash-park-car-parade-donor-family

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!

wash-park-car-parade-honorary-signs

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.

Borrego-Family-Donor-Dash

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:

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.

Related Articles