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With the short supply of beautiful summer days here in Cleveland, why would anyone ever want to get up early on a Saturday morning to participate in a fundraising event? 

Apparently thousands of individuals who believe there is more to life than work and our immediate circle of responsibilities.  Thank goodness.  And, thank goodness that out of all the important social and health issues that are trying to raise funds and awareness, these special individuals have chosen to attend the Lifebanc Gift of Life Walk and Run.

And there is nothing else like it.

From the moment the gates open and people flood Blossom Music Center, the air is charged with emotion.  Smiles, laughter and yes, tears.  Friends hugging and celebrating lives lived and lives saved.  Along with the emotions, team t-shirts, signs, balloons, clowns, and music make the atmosphere almost circus-like.

In the center of the controlled chaos is a small, quiet but most powerful place where the sounds of the morning melt away.  It is the Legacy Garden, which is the heart and soul of the event.  The garden is a visual representation of the men, women and children whose lives have been touched and forever changed by organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation.  It will break your heart and then make it soar again.

For me, the day is filled with pride.  I am always amazed at the many family members, friends and friends of friends that come out to support the Kidney Beans Team.  Last year, I was particularly proud to “share” my beans with the Scroggy Family.  Matt, a kidney recipient, received a kidney from his sister Sarah.  We were there to celebrate Sarah and my sister, Joan and were a double kidney recipient, living-kidney donor team.  Awesome. 

There is no other event that celebrates life in this manner.  It is a time to honor those who provided the Gift of Life to save a stranger.  It celebrates those who were brought back from the brink of death – only by the grace of a stranger.  It is a time to celebrate those courageous individuals who are living donors.  It is no less than a miraculous demonstration of human kindness.

So for me, and thousands of others, attending the Gift of Life Walk and Run is the best way to spend a summer Saturday morning.  I hope you join us.

Colleen Gerber,  Two-time Kidney Recipient

Organ and tissue donation is important to me because it helps to save lives. Without donors transplants cannot occur.

Before I actually started working in the license bureau, I never even considered being a donor. I am on the front line every day asking people to say YES to become an organ and tissue donor. At first I looked at it as part of my job, but as I grew in knowledge, understanding and situations occurring, it allowed me to see the importance of it. I didn’t look at it as just my job anymore; I looked at it as an opportunity to help save lives and eventually became a donor myself.

It is a beautiful thing for someone to have a second chance at life. I read articles, talk to recipients, go on websites and try to get as much education as possible to make sure that if I am asked a question, I may be able to answer it hoping that it may help someone to at least consider the possibility of becoming a donor.

Read about it, educate yourself, talk about it, then you can help by spreading the word, and saying YES to become an organ and tissue donor.

Stephanie Drake
Deputy Registrar for the Shaker Heights License Bureau