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Thousands to celebrate organ, eye and tissue donation at the 14th Annual Donor Dash 5K Run/Walk

July 16, 2013

Donor Alliance, the federally designated, non-profit organ procurement organization and American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) accredited tissue bank serving Colorado and Wyoming, will this month once again host the Donor Dash. The 14th annual 5K run/walk is 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. The event will take place the morning of July 21 in Denver’s historic Washington Park.

The Donor Dash, presented by the University of Colorado Hospital Transplant Center, has steadily grown and more than 4,300 people, including about two hundred volunteers and 100 teams, participated in last year’s event. Donor Alliance hopes to reach 5,000 participants this year. The event is open to people of all ages and offers a terrific family-friendly summer activity.

“Each July thousands who’ve been touched by the lifesaving gift of donation and transplantation gather to celebrate life at the Donor Dash,” said Sue Dunn, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. “Transplant recipients often walk in honor of their donors’ lives and in celebration of the miraculous gift they were given. Donor families walk in memory of their loved ones and in reverence to the selfless gifts they gave. It is the people that make this event so special.”

Kelly Lang, a donor mom from Golden, Colo. will be the keynote speaker at this year’s event. She will reflect on the life of her daughter, Perri, who became a donor following her death after a car accident. She will also discuss the hope that she and her family have drawn from knowing Perri’s gifts of life have helped many in need. Kelly will also receive a surprise gift from Kay Bustamante and Jeff Sparks, whose lives were saved when they received Perri’s liver and kidney, respectively.

Race day registration and packet pickup starts at 7 a.m. July 21, followed by the 5k run/walk at 8 a.m., the Diaper Dash for children at 9:15 a.m., recognition ceremony at 9:30 a.m. and the balloon release at 10:00 a.m. More information about how to register or volunteer and maps for the event can be found at www.DonorAlliance.org/DonorDash.

Join the 67 percent of Coloradans who have registered to be organ, eye and tissue donors. For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit DonorAlliance.org. To register to be an organ and tissue donor, please visit DonateLifeColorado.org, DonateLifeWyoming.org or call 303-329-4747 for more information.