Events |
2008 Events 2007 Events 2006 Events |
2008 Events
The 9th Annual Donor Dash
The American Transplant Foundation was a proud sponsor and participant in Donor Alliance’s 9th annual Donor Dash on Sunday, July 13th in Washington Park. The Donor Dash is a race to honor the lives of organ and tissue donors, celebrate the lives of organ and tissue recipients, and recognize the lives of those still waiting for a life-saving transplant. Over 2,300 people participated in this event, making it the largest Donor Dash ever held.
Our 18 team members, among them a transplant recipient, a donor family member, and several people who work with the University of Colorado Hospital’s renal transplant group, raced in this 5K run/walk to spread the message that transplant recipients can lead healthy, active lives. After the race, the Foundation hosted a booth where our volunteers answered questions about organ and tissue donation and informed the public about our work in the community. Special thanks go to our wonderful team of runners and volunteers for making this event such a success!
Team members Heidi Heltzel, Christina Cicerchi, Jan Cicerchi, Peter Johnson, Larry Chan, and Siu Kim Chan after racing in the Donor Dash. |
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Crosby, Stills & Nash Benefit Concert
On June 26th, iconic rock band Crosby, Stills & Nash played a special concert benefiting the American Transplant Foundation. This concert had particular significance for band member David Crosby whose life was saved by a liver transplant in 1995.
Thanks to the over 500 people who purchased benefit tickets to the concert, we were able to raise $255,000. This money will go to support our endowment to the University of Colorado Hospital’s Transplant Center, as well as community based outreach and education programs. Thank you to all of our guests who came to support organ and tissue donation and the American Transplant Foundation!
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Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and liver recipient David Crosby perform at the American Transplant Foundation’s benefit concert, an event that raised over $255,000. |
2008 Colorado Colfax Marathon
On Sunday, May 18th, 25 runners and 18 volunteers represented the American Transplant Foundation as a Charity Partner in the 2008 Colorado Colfax Marathon. These 25 runners, including kidney recipient Keith Ashby and liver recipient Mike Benschneider, created five relay teams to spread the message that transplant recipients and living donors can lead healthy, active lives. Our volunteers worked at the finish line greeting and congratulating the over 5,000 runners who participated in the race. The American Transplant Foundation also partnered with Donor Alliance to host a registry drive and educational booth at the Sports & Fitness Expo during race weekend. We are so grateful to all of our runners and volunteers for spreading the message of the importance of organ and tissue donation and for making this event a success. Way to go team!
Watch the 9News coverage of one of our remarkable runners, Keith Ashby.
Relay team members Elizabeth Mullen, David Rubin, Katie Cicerchi, and Alicia Hess at the end of their relay marathon. |
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Vail Symposium Forum on Transplant Tourism
On March 11, 2008, the Vail Symposium hosted the American Transplant Foundation with special guests, Doctors Christoph Broelsch and Igal Kam, for a special forum on transplant tourism. Transplant tourism is cross-border travel by any participant in transplantation—recipients, live donors, and medical staff—for the purpose of obtaining an organ in exchange for cash or goods from persons. While laws vary regarding the commercialization of organ transplantation, the demand for life-saving organs has resulted in the creation of black markets in many places around the world. Of the 63,000 kidney transplants that occur annually worldwide, an estimated ten percent involve payment of living non-related donors, according to the World Health Organization. This event featured an informational forum followed by dinner and intimate Q&A with Doctors Broelsch and Kam.
Click here to learn more about transplant tourism.
2008 Denver Diabetes EXPO
On March 1, 2008, the American Transplant Foundation shared a booth with Donor Alliance at the Diabetes EXPO to raise awareness about diabetes and its link to transplantation. Diabetes affects more than 20.8 million children and adults in the United States and is the leading cause of chronic kidney failure. Dedicated to healthy living, diabetes prevention and management, this expo was free to the public and had over 6,000 people in attendance, many of whom stopped by our booth.
2007 Events
Aspen Summit for Life 2007
The second annual Summit for Life race, held on December 2, 2007, was a wonderful success. Participants raced 3,267 vertical feet over a 2.5 mile course on snowshoes or cross-country skis to a party at the summit with live entertainment, delicious food, beer, wine, dancing and prizes.
Nordstrom Gala
On October 17, 2007, the American Transplant Foundation was honored to be a beneficiary of the Nordstrom Cherry Creek Grand Opening Gala. Dubbed the “event of the year” by local media, over 2100 guest enjoyed the fully catered event complete with a world-class fashion show.
Aspen Institute Health Forum
The American Transplant Foundation was a Forum Partner at the Aspen Institute’s inaugural Health Forum from October 3-6, 2007. The Institute hosted more than 100 thought leaders in medical science and health policy including Nobel Prize recipients, prominent NIH officials, and other top experts. The Foundation organized the panel discussion Organ Transplantation: Advances, Barriers and Ethics and hosted an art exhibition and cocktail reception, Art, Science and Transplantation, featuring original works from Sir Roy Calne and Nora Chase.
Endowment
On September 29, 2007, the Foundation announced its gift of $1 million for the Igal Kam Endowment for a Chair of Transplant Surgery at the University of Colorado Hospital. Presented during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the newly constructed, world class transplant center at the Anschutz Medical Center campus, this endowment provides perpetual funding for the transplant program.
Click here to visit the site of the new transplant center.
Colfax Marathon
The Foundation had a booth at the second annual Colfax Marathon held in May 2007, to promote one of our key messages—that both living donors and transplant recipients can lead healthy, active lifestyles.
Ride of Your Life Premier
In April 2007, the Foundation hosted the premier showing of the documentary film, Ride of Your Life, about the transplant journey of Olympic Medalist and American Transplant Foundation Board member, Chris Klug. Held at the historic Paramount Theater in downtown Denver, local comedian Sam Adams entertained the crowd as the opening act. Following the inspirational movie, local band favorite Opie Gone Bad played a lively concert.
Diabetes Expo
The Foundation had a booth at the March Diabetes Expo to help educate diabetes patients about the effects of diabetes, the leading cause of chronic kidney failure. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes accounted for 44% of new cases of kidney failure in 2002. That same year, a total of 153,730 people with end-stage renal disease due to diabetes were living on chronic dialysis or with a kidney transplant.
2006 Events
Aspen Summit For Life
The first annual Aspen Summit For Life was a huge success. Click here to see the results of the event.
Click here to watch the video.
Rockin’ Rhythm For Life was a huge success, with the magic of Earth Wind & Fire and Chris Botti on August 28th at the CityLights Pavilion. Click here to see photos of the event.
Surf, Sizzle and Stars created quite a buzz with the community. This dinner event, hosted at The Palm Restaurant, was a casual evening filled with delicious cuisine, Hawaiian shirts and a bit of heckling by celebrity waiters and Guests alike.