Donating
Spares Needed!Lynn and I were honored to be invited out to Snowmass, Colorado to participate and be recognized by the Chris Klug Foundation at their Wine and Dine Event as their 2024 Donor Hero(s).
Chris started CKF to promote lifesaving organ, eye, and tissue donation, and work to improve the quality of life for those touched by transplantation. CKF uses the stories of organ donors, transplant candidates, and transplant recipients to inspire, alongside events, school courses, and webinars to educate. All with the end goal of encouraging individuals to give the gift of life and register as organ donors.
“The Donor Hero winner will be someone who has helped change or save someone’s life. They could be either a donor or an individual who chose for their loved one to become a donor when they passed. They may even be a donor family member who was inspired by a family member’s decision to become a donor. The winner’s journey will be inspiring and encourage others to register as donors. The recipient of this award will be a strong advocate for organ, eye, and tissue donation, and help others to decide to save lives.”
Wine & Dine is one of the Chris Klug Foundation’s annual awareness and fundraising events. It is a celebration of the gift of life with the recipients of our CKF Awards, along with exquisite wine and decadent food in a beautiful setting at the Snowmass Club. Wine & Dine helps CKF continue our work to educate and inspire individuals to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors, and to eliminate the wait for a transplant.
86% of monetary donations are allocated to their programs.
About Chris Klug
After receiving a liver transplant in 2000 to treat primary sclerosing cholangitis, Chris Klug went on to compete in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, winning a bronze medal in the Parallel Giant Slalom.[1] This was the first and so far only time a transplantee had competed in the Olympics, either winter or summer.
The Chris Klug Foundation (CKF) was established in October 2003 by Olympic Bronze Medalist and liver transplant recipient, Chris Klug.
Chris was 21 years old when he discovered he needed a transplant. He then spent 6 years on the transplant waitlist before receiving his transplant. Just 18 months later, he won a Bronze Medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games.
Chris started CKF to promote lifesaving organ, eye, and tissue donation, and work to improve the quality of life for those touched by transplantation. CKF uses the stories of organ donors, transplant candidates, and transplant recipients to inspire, alongside events, school courses, and webinars to educate. All with the end goal of encouraging individuals to give the gift of life and register as organ donors.
Other award winners.
We had a great time with Denise and Jim Redeker, Denise is a heart recipient and Bounce Back Give Back award winner for non-profit Heartfelt Help.
We met Abby Gray in Houston in March of 2023 when she helped put on an event for us. Her twins were part of TOT 4.0!
Reid, her husband is a liver recipient and Abby won the Community Champion award for her advocacy work and her book about organ donation.
The evening.
The Award winners on Aspen Mountain.
I got in some nice mountain biking, of course. 😊
Bob Wade, Board Member and mountain biker joined me in a ride, as well. All Board members are volunteers.
Bob learned the importance of organ donation the hard way…
For the Wade family, the tragedy of losing their son Robbie was softened by his decision to become an organ donor in the event of early, unexpected death. At his memorial service, as they measured the depths of their disorientation and despair, they were buoyed by knowing that as they mourned, others celebrated the gift of their loved one’s new chance at living by receiving one of Robbie’s critical organs.
As time went by, they learned that many, many more lives were changed in the weeks and months following his death by the use of his bone and tissue donation. This is the legacy of Robbie’s foresight and why Bob works on the CKF board to carry this message forward.
We look forward to working with the Chris Klug Foundation as our methods to create awareness overlap in a number of areas.
