On Saturday, December 7, 2024, Kiwanis Park in Tempe, AZ, came alive with a sense of community and appreciation as it brought together over 500 participants of all ages and abilities for the 5th Annual Donor Dash. This event is organized by the Transplant Community Alliance (TCA), and featured a 10K, 5K, and 1K Family Fun Run/Walk. Each year it continues to be a touching tribute to the heroes who have given the gift of life through organ donation and aims to raise awareness about the importance of becoming an organ donor.

This year’s event was another remarkable success! The participants enjoyed a scenic course along the walking paths that surround a tranquil 12-acre lake, a vibrant vendor village, and a silent auction with a unique variety of items generously donated by businesses and organizations. This year’s new addition was the opportunity to purchase honorary signs. The signs pay tribute to living and deceased donors, which were displayed along the course, creating a sentimental and impactful atmosphere as participants began their journey from the starting line. Attendees also had the opportunity to create or pick up a Hero Button to pay tribute to their personal heroes in their transplant journey, whether it be their donor, caregiver, family member, surgeon, social worker, or friend.

With overwhelming support from this year’s sponsors, donors, volunteers, participants and the community, the event successfully raised over $60,000 for TCA’s Living Assistance Fund. This significantly exceeded last year’s total. We would like to recognize and extend a special thank you to our sponsors:

  • Donate Life Arizona
  • Banner University Medical Center – PHX/Tucson
  • Mayo Clinic
  • Dignity Health
  • Phoenix Children’s Hospital
  • Tortoise & Hare Sports

Your generosity and commitment made a significant impact, and we could not have reached these milestones without you. Thank you for being an essential part of our success.

With around 20 teams participating, the competition was fierce, but the camaraderie was even stronger. These teams orchestrated their fundraising efforts and encouraged participation. Here are a few of this year’s standout teams: Jenna’s Groupies, was our top fundraising team, with 41 members raising over $25,000! This year, the team captain was Jenna Rosenberg, LMSW at Mayo Clinic. who also leads the Liver Support Group at Mayo. Jenna’s continual commitment along with the team’s dedication displayed the power of a collective effort. Team Sean, participating for the 4th year, honoring Sean, who received a double lung transplant and was blessed with two additional years of life. The team celebrates his memory with a table dedicated to displaying his life through photos and memorabilia. This year marked the second year for Team Embrace Your Pace at Donor Dash. Leading the team this year was Addie Hooker, who felt a personal connection to the cause. Addie is passionate about showing her support after her niece-in-law became an organ donor following a tragic accident. These teams, along with many others, demonstrated incredible support and appreciation for the transplant community making them the true champions of Donor Dash!

The event also highlighted several individuals for their exceptional fundraising efforts that contributed to its financial success. Kristine Rothstein was recognized as the top individual fundraiser this year. A three-time liver transplant recipient, Kristine has faced significant challenges due to an autoimmune liver disease. She is now 2 1/2 years post her third transplant and is doing well. “The Transplant alliance is an amazing boots on the ground organization and I’m proud to be supporting them. They supported my family when we needed it. We had to relocate three times from Washington state.” She wants others to know how grateful she is for the assistance received. Another individual honored as a top fundraiser was Ed Ozier. A three-time kidney recipient, Ed is a well-known and highly respected figure in the transplant support groups. His dedication and compassion have made him a linchpin of the community, providing invaluable support to individuals both before and after their transplants. Ed’s commitment to helping others navigate their transplant journeys is truly inspiring.

Organ donation has a profound impact on countless lives. A single donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve the lives of up to 75 people through tissue donation. In 2023 alone, over 46,000 transplants were performed in the United States thanks to the generosity of organ donors. Despite this, there are still over 103,000 people on the national transplant waiting list, with 17 people dying each day while waiting for a transplant. These statistics underscore the critical need for more registered donors.

 

The 5th Annual Donor Dash was a memorable and meaningful event! It continues to celebrate the gift of life and bring the transplant community together. As TCA’s largest fundraiser, it provides essential funding for our Living Assistance Fund which provides financial relief to transplant recipients, those on the waitlist and their families. TCA would like to thank all those who made this event possible. Your commitment and hard work are deeply appreciated. We look forward to seeing everyone again for the 6th Annual Donor Dash on Saturday, December 6, 2025, as we continue this tradition of celebrating life and honoring heroes!