Thirteen transplant recipients, six living donors to cycle with Team Transplant.

MEDIA ADVISORY                                                                                                     Download PDF
AMERICAN TRANSPLANT FOUNDATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2009

Contacts:       Heidi Heltzel, amy@americantransplantfoundation.org, 303-757-0959

Katie Cicerchi, katie@americantransplantfoundation.org, 303-757-0959

THIRTEEN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS, SIX LIVING DONORS TO CYCLE WITH TEAM TRANSPLANT AT THE 2009 SUBARU ELEPHANT ROCK RIDE IN CELEBRATION OF LIFE

WHAT:

Team Transplant, the American Transplant Foundation’s inaugural charity cycling team, will cycle the 2009 Subaru Elephant Rock Ride on Sunday, June 7th in Castle Rock, Colorado to raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation. Though only in its first year, Team Transplant has recruited 180 team members, including 13 recipients, four living donors, and two future living donors, making it the largest charity team at the Subaru Elephant Rock Ride. Collectively, Team Transplant members will ride more than 9,300 miles.

Organ recipients and living donors alike are cycling with Team Transplant to prove that it is possible to lead a healthy, active lifestyle even after receiving or giving the gift of life. Kidney recipient Bryan Miller and his living donor Kevin Townsend will cycle the 100 mile course in celebration of the fourth anniversary of their transplant. The youngest member of the team, four-year-old liver recipient Vienna Danna, will compete in Elephant Rock’s Shimano Youth Challenge Kid’s Series.

WHEN:

Sunday, June 7th (between 5:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.)

See below for a detailed time breakdown and for a list of photo opportunities.

• 5:30 – 8 a.m. – 100, 62 mile courses start
• 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. – 34, 25, 7 mile courses start
• 1 p.m.  – Shimano Kid’s Race

WHERE:

Douglas County Fairgrounds

500 Fairgrounds Dr.

Castle Rock, CO 80104

WHO:

180 Team Transplant members including 13 recipients and six living donors

• Kidney recipients include: Steve Farber, Bryan Miller, Keith Ashby, Justin Fulton
• Liver recipients: Olympic medalist Chris Klug, four-year-old Vienna Danna, Michael Wells
• Kidney-pancreas recipient: Anne Mukhar
• Living organ donors include: Marc Prisant, Kevin Townsend, Steve Crider
• Donor family members: Robin Mitchell, David Caples
• Supporters include: Barry Hirschfeld, Dr. Larry Chan, Dr. Igal Kam, Geoff McFarlane, Josh Hanfling

WHY:

Team Transplant is riding to raise awareness for the more than 102,000 people in the United States who are on the waiting list for a lifesaving organ transplant, 1,800 of whom live in Colorado. Despite the fact that one donor can save the lives of up to eight people through organ donation and can save or enhance the lives of more than 100 through tissue donation, thousands of people die each year—or 18 people per day—while  waiting to receive the gift of life. Team Transplants transplant recipients and living donors are riding to prove that it is possible to lead a healthy, active lifestyle after transplant.

Photo opportunities:

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