To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.
Anyone who participated in the first Dash for Life and 25th Annual Railroad Days 5K Run-Walk on Aug. 13 knows how inspiring it was to honor our state's donor families and to hear about the gifts of life received by participating organ recipients.
Thankfully, 161 people participated. Dan Gutenson, a kidney recipient, chose to honor his living donor by leading the race on a bicycle demonstrating that organ and tissue donation saves lives like his.
I am a six-organ recipient, and my grandson Ryan Jackson, and young heart recipient Riley Speckand were trophy presenters who impressed upon the crowd what the gift of life means to families across our commonwealth.
Several people decided to build our donor registry by saying “YES” to organ and tissue donation. To all who did so, we are grateful. We all know that joining Kentucky's donor registry saves lives, (www.donatelifeky.org).
Our community remains a generous place. When it comes to giving to worthwhile causes, there seems to be few limits. We thank our major sponsors and silver sponsors from the bottom of our hearts.
To those who volunteered time and energy prior to and during the event, we are grateful.
A very special thank you goes to Rick Serres, a man committed to this community on a daily basis.
Another special thank you goes to the Junction City Fire Department, the Junction City Police Department, Mayor Douglas, Susan Music, and those who make Railroad Days possible.
The success of this event has even deeper meaning, as additional proceeds benefitted children who are organ recipients and children on the waiting list. The proceeds also benefitted the Life is Cool educational program presented to fourth- and fifth-graders across Kentucky. We hope this annual event will continue to draw large crowds, as it is intended to serve as an awareness event promoting organ and tissue donation in order to provide lifesaving gifts to those on the waiting list.
Jean Crawford
Donate Life Ambassador
of Central Kentucky
Danville
