This year, I'm racing in the Leadville 100 MTB to help raise awareness and funds for eye, organ, and tissue donation. This cause is deeply personal to me—not only because I have three friends whose lives were saved by donors, but also because it has directly impacted my own life.
A few years ago, my stepfather, whom I was very close to, passed away from something that felt both senseless and avoidable. In the midst of that loss, it meant the world to my mother and me that his death could give someone else the chance to live. Being able to help save a life brought us a sense of purpose and peace in an incredibly difficult time.
Please join me in supporting this meaningful cause through donation or by sharing this message with those in your community. Together, we can help give others the same gift of life and hope.
Call me crazy...but it’s for a good reason: I’m riding on behalf of the Chris Klug Foundation (CKF), a nonprofit that educates on the importance of organ, eye, & tissue donation! Not only will I be riding in their honor, but I will also be fundraising for their cause, in support of organ, eye & tissue donation.
So, why CKF? Although I am able to take on such a daunting physical (and mental!) task like riding the Leadville 100, there are still more than 103,000 people in the U.S. who cannot, because they're awaiting a lifesaving transplant. Everyday 17 of these people die waiting for their turn for their transplant. And every 8 minutes, someone new is added to that waitlist. Just one person has the ability to save up to 8 lives as an organ donor and improve up to 75 lives through tissue and eye donation. But here’s a stark reality: although 95% of U.S. adults support the idea of organ donation, only 48% are actually registered as organ donors. That isn’t good enough. I’m riding in the hopes of eliminating the wait for a transplant. I know that’s a lofty goal, but if my riding helps just one person from having to wait, I believe it's worth it.
CKF is making huge strides to educate people of all ages, with the goal of registering more individuals as organ donors across the U.S., in the hopes of one day eliminating the wait for transplant nationwide. Please help me raise the very important funds they need to continue their lifesaving mission. The smallest amount helps and 100% of your donation is tax-deductible. Donations can be made via credit card or check.
