Latest news with #DonorDash
CBS News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Thousands participated in Denver's Donor Dash 2025, raising money and awareness for organ and tissue donations
Nearly 5,000 people participated in this year's Donor Dash 5K at Washington Park in Denver this past weekend, an event dedicated to honoring and celebrating the lives impacted by organ, tissue, and eye donations. CBS News Colorado's Michael Spencer served as emcee again this year. The event, held over the weekend, featured activities for all ages -- including the popular Diaper Dash for the youngest participants. CBS News Colorado is a proud sponsor of the event, and organizers thanked everyone who helped make the Donor Dash a success.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Coloradan participating in this weekend's Donor Dash in Denver says transplantation changed his life: 'It saved me'
The 26th annual Donor Dash takes place this weekend in Denver, and among the participants will be a Coloradan whose life was changed drastically by transplantation. A dozen years ago Doug French, 74, was struggling with burning eyes and swelling. He was living with hepatitis C. "It didn't stop me, but it surely slowed me down," he said. While he was holding out hope the newer treatments would assist with his situation, French went to meet with the hepatologist. "He said, 'If you don't get a transplant, you won't survive.' And I went, 'Oh, I see. I got this.' That changed everything." French was living in Colorado at the time and was put on a transplant list in Oregon. So he and his wife moved temporarily to Portland and lived in a hotel for four months before he got the call they were hoping for. A recently deceased organ donor had a liver that was a match. "Waking up from that transplant was a miracle. For the first time in years, my eyes weren't burning from hepatitis C," French said. French recently celebrated 10 years since receiving his new organ, and with his body functioning at a higher level, he has lost 110 pounds. He has always been an avid scuba diver, and in addition to making it easier for him to do one of his favorite hobbies, his new liver has allowed him to take other activity levels to new lengths. He completed his first half marathon in April. That was something he wasn't even thinking about prior to his transplant. "Was it even on the back of your mind: 'One day I'm going to do a half marathon?'" CBS Colorado's Michael Spencer asked French. "Oh no, no, no," said French, who jogged with his nephew-in-law. "During that particular time, I kind of like draw a blank about my life and about my future. I had no idea what was next. It saved me. And I've I can't say enough about how grateful I am," he said. The Donor Dash takes place on Sunday at Washington Park. CBS Colorado is a sponsor of the event and Spencer serve as the emcee of the event. Find out how you can register for the event or help the Donor Alliance at
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Colorado nurse joins 5K in honor of organ donor who saved her life
For the past 26 years, hundreds of people have gathered in Denver for the annual Donor Dash. The 5K run/walk is dedicated to honoring, celebrating and recognizing those whose lives have been impacted by organ and tissue donation. This year, a nurse from Parker is taking part for the first time, in honor of her patients and the organ donor who saved her life. "I really can put myself in their shoes, being a patient," said Heather Dykstra, an OR nurse at AdventHealth Parker. Inside an operating room, Dykstra finds great purpose in helping others. She's worked as a nurse for 20 years and has seen the fear some patients have when they enter the operating room. It's in that room that Dykstra serves as a beacon of hope. "Even for simple surgeries, patients can be really nervous, so it's nice to be the nurse that can come and help calm them down," she said. "I tell them, 'I know how it feels to be a patient, I am here for you.'" Last March, Dykstra was on life support. "My liver was shutting down, my kidneys were shutting down," she said. It happened out of nowhere; the otherwise healthy 43-year-old felt her heart racing and was short of breath. "I kind of put it off thinking maybe I'm having some anxiety, but that's not something I typically deal with," said Dykstra. "I kept thinking, 'I'm fine, I'm fine,' until I really wasn't." Dykstra explained she was in cardiogenic shock with myocarditis and pericarditis. Doctors told the mother of two she needed a heart transplant to survive. "It was all very traumatic," she said, holding back tears. "I've got young kids at home, so it was like, 'What's going to happen to them if I don't come through this?'" On a Monday, Dykstra became one of the more than 100,000 people in the U.S. waiting for a transplant, joining the over 3,500 in need of a new heart. Her case was so severe, she was rushed to the top of the national donor list, and by Friday, a match was found. "It was Good Friday and my dad's birthday," Dykstra recalled. "My dad passed away 20 years ago, so I knew he was looking out for me." Two weeks after walking into the ER with heart complications, Dykstra was wheeled out with a new heart. She would spend months, though, in the ICU during a very difficult recovery, which included relearning to walk. "I was so decompensated I couldn't stand on my own," she described. Yet Dykstra found strength in her family and friends who came to visit, as well as her many coworkers who raised awareness for organ donation as part of the 2024 Donor Alliance Donor Dash. "I was just absolutely honored that they did the Donor Dash last year in my name," Dykstra said. And this year, Dykstra will proudly walk in the annual 5K for the first time. "I'm not afraid to show my scars," she said. "Scar tissue is stronger than the original, and I feel that way, too." Once again, Dykstra is a beacon of hope. "I hope to just continue to promote the movement of signing up for organ donation and thanking the families that signed their loved ones up to be a donor," she said. "I'm hopeful to one day learn who that person was [who gave their heart] to give a huge thanks to their family." The 26th Annual Donor Dash is The 26 th Sunday, July 20, at Washington Park in Denver. CBS News Colorado is a proud sponsor of the event, and evening anchor Michael Spencer will once again serve as the emcee.
Business Wire
09-07-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
26th Annual Donor Dash 5K Brings Community Together at Washington Park to Celebrate Gift of Life
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 26th Annual Donor Dash 5K, hosted by Donor Alliance, the nonprofit facilitating organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming, will take place at Denver's Washington Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at 8 a.m. This inspiring 5K run/walk is one of Colorado's most meaningful community events, bringing together participants from across the region to honor organ, eye and tissue donors, celebrate transplant recipients, and recognize those who continue to wait for life-saving transplants. "The Donor Dash encapsulates the heart of our mission – bringing our community together to recognize the incredible, life-saving impact of donation and transplantation," said Jennifer Prinz, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. "The Donor Dash encapsulates the heart of our mission – bringing our community together to recognize the incredible, life-saving impact of donation and transplantation," said Jennifer Prinz, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. "This event creates a powerful space where we can honor the generosity of donors, celebrate the resilience of recipients, and inspire more Coloradans to consider the life-changing decision to register as donors." This year's event features multiple meaningful opportunities for participants to honor, celebrate, and recognize those impacted by donation: Dashboard tributes: Participants can submit photos and messages that will be displayed continuously on videoboards near the main stage throughout race morning, creating a visual celebration of lives touched by donation. Honorary signage program: Memorial signs honor loved ones who left lasting legacies through their gift of life; Inspirational signs celebrate current recipients and those awaiting transplants; Living donor signs recognize individuals who have provided lifesaving and healing gifts. Ribbon ceremony: Following the race, the on-stage program begins at 9:30 a.m. and features inspirational stories while recognizing the diverse connections within the organ, eye, and tissue donation community with colorful ribbons. Participants can collect their ribbons near the finish line or at the designated Ribbons Tent in the expo area. This year's post-race ceremony will include a video highlighting the personal journeys of remarkable advocates whose lives exemplify the power of donation: Amy Connell, tissue recipient: Following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2014, Amy received Alloderm tissue during her reconstructive surgery. Now over 10 years cancer-free, Amy credits the tissue donation with helping her heal through a difficult time. As a registered nurse, she says the experience deepened her empathy and respect for donors. Amy is dashing to honor her donor and celebrate being here to watch her daughters grow. Doug French, liver recipient: After living with Hepatitis C for decades, Doug's illness eventually left him in need of a liver transplant. Doug received a life-saving transplant in 2015 and considers it to be his greatest gift. Gaby Landeros-Williams, sister of a donor: Gaby's sister, Diana tragically passed away in a car accident when she was just 16. The Landeros family decided to donate Diana's organs to honor her memory and help others in need. Thanks to Diana's gifts, three people were given a second chance at life. Gaby is dashing to honor the legacy of her sister. Registration remains open for individuals through Thursday, July 18, with race day registration beginning at 7 a.m. The 5K run/walk starts at 8 a.m., followed by a special Diaper Dash for children 3-years-old and under at 9:15 a.m. Post-race activities include an expo area featuring donation education resources, exhibitor booths, and a children's play area. Detailed event information, registration, and volunteer opportunities are available on the Donor Dash event page. Coloradans interested in registering as organ, eye and tissue donors can visit to learn more. About Donor Alliance Donor Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming. As a federally designated organ procurement organization – one of 55 in the U.S. – Donor Alliance serves more than 6.3 million residents and more than 100 hospitals. Donor Alliance walks alongside the family during the organ recovery process and ensures their loved one's gifts are safely received at transplant centers in a timely manner. Donor Alliance also facilitates tissue donation to save and heal more lives across our community. In addition, the organization maintains partnerships with hospitals and manages the Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming registries, which are symbols of the cause. Through Donate Life, Donor Alliance educates residents on the lifesaving benefits of donation, inspiring them to register. For more information, please visit
CBS News
25-04-2025
- CBS News
Family of man shot while driving on I-95 in Philadelphia wants justice: "They took my son from me"
Man shot, killed while driving on I-95 gives the gift of life to four people as an organ donor Man shot, killed while driving on I-95 gives the gift of life to four people as an organ donor Man shot, killed while driving on I-95 gives the gift of life to four people as an organ donor It's been exactly 28 days since Aiden Zeallor, 21, was shot and killed. And every day that passes, Zeallor's parents said the loss is as painful as it was the day he was killed. "His life was just so tragically cut short. It's not fair and it's not right," Denise Donahue said. "It's not comprehensible that I'm never going to see him again or talk to him again." Pennsylvania State Police said Zeallor was murdered on March 29 while he was driving on I-95 between Cottman and Bridge avenues in Port Richmond. It happened around 2:30 a.m. His parents said he was driving home to Northeast Philadelphia at the time. "This was not a road rage incident. This was not [a] racing incident. My son and his friend were just driving home and they was at the wrong place at the wrong time and they got caught in the crossfire that was not meant for him," Donahue said. Zeallor's mom said police have kept them updated on the investigation, but so far, no arrests have been made. CBS News Philadelphia. "Whatever else these people have done, they took my son from me, and that needs to be brought to justice," Donahue said. His parents continue to struggle with the fact that their son was taken from them. They described him as a good person who was outgoing and always willing to help others. It's something he continued to do even after his death by donating his organs. Zeallor's mom says he saved four lives. "I know they are so grateful because one of the recipients only had 48 hours left to live and we changed those people's lives," Donahue said. Donahue said it's something her son would've wanted. On Sunday, the family will honor him by taking part in the 28th annual Donor Dash at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Zeallor's parents said the tragedy stole what was a promising future for the 21-year-old, but they also say they take solace in knowing his legacy will live on through others. "I found comfort in changing other people's lives in my darkest time," Donahue said.
