Team WilsonRx completed the 24th annual Gift of Life DASH for Organ Donation Awareness held on April 14 in Philadelphia at the Art Museum.
Jim Wilson received a liver transplant in 2006 from an anonymous donor and Jim and his wife, Fran, and other family and friends, including four legged friends, have participated in each annual DASH since, raising more than $10,000 towards organ donor programs and the new Gift of Life Family House.
This year, team WilsonRx was supported by donations by RoseAnn Martiello, Bridget Wingert, Bob and Annette Mercandetti, Cliff and Betsy Funk, Marsha Millonig, Dr. Tod Cooperman and United Color.
The 24th annual Donor Dash drew 14,000 dedicated Dashers and raised $600,000 to support Gift of Life outreach programs to educate the community about the significant need to register more organ and tissue donors. Individuals who missed the Dash, but still want to donate, can visit donordash.org.
The Donor Dash, founded in 1996, was created to raise awareness about this critical need, to increase the number of registered organ and tissue donors. It first began as a result of Claire Braverman’s wish to honor her husband, Mickey, who passed away while waiting for a liver transplant.
The Dash has grown significantly over the past 24 years, growing from 800 people to more than 14,000 participants this year. The Dash offers several course options – a 5K run, a 10K run and a 3K walk – so people of all fitness levels can get involved.
Since 1974, Gift of Life Donor Program has coordinated more than 38,000 organ transplants and over 550,000 tissue transplants in the region. Gift of Life serves as the link between donors and patients awaiting life-saving organ and life-enhancing tissue transplants. Serving nearly 11 million people in the region.
