At the beginning of the year is a good time to reflect on what we want out of life, what was most satisfying to us in the past.
In that vein, I was attempting to declutter my office when I ran across old photos from my volunteering days with the National Kidney Foundation. My brother, Charles, died of kidney disease two weeks before his 16th birthday. I got involved when I interviewed a lady with NKF, who turned out to be a good friend, Norma Cherniss, on the talk show I produced and co-hosted several years ago.
Through Norma, I eventually became Public Relations Director and served on the National Kidney Foundation Board for several years, in addition to chairing one of their major benefits, The Great Chefs of Orange County, where we raised $40,000.
Another memorable opportuniy I had as a volunteer with them was when I participated in the 1992 Transplant Games, a bienniel Olympic-style event for organ transplant recipient athletes held at UCLA. It was the first year the National Kidney Foundation took on the management of this event, started in Texas in 1982. I formed a volunteer team from my workplace, AT&T, and we showed up and assisted in any way they needed us. I had the privilege of presenting a medal to a heart transplant recipient. That year there were 2,000 supporters.
Where else could kidney or heart transplant recipients get the opportunity to compete in say a 50-meter dash or swim the butterfly stroke across a 25-meter pool.
Since 1992, the games have been held in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Columbus, Orlando, Louisville and Pittsburgh, growing significantly each time. In July, 2008, a record-breaking gathering of 7,000 people, 1,200 of whom were transplant athletes from all 50 states converged in Pittsburgh, competing in
13 different sport competitions.
This program was started to demonstrate to the public the successes of the life-restoring therapy of organ transplantation and to call attention to the need for organ donation. It gave recipients and their families a chance to gather and share experiences, kindle friendships, and celebrate their "ultimate second chance" at life while paying tribute to those who make it all possible--the donor families. You can get more information on the games and/or the kidney foundation here.
P. S. I know, I know, the hair...what was I thinking?
