One local biker who has been touched by Live On. Ride On. is Aaron Shirk. Each year he promotes the campaign with his “Duane Shirk Memorial Poker Run” to honor his father, who gave the ‘Gift of Life.’ Here’s what Aaron has to say about his father and what riding means to him: Read More »
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By Rob West, Liver Recipient
Have you ever asked yourself how you would do things differently if you were given a second chance? This was something I never asked until about two years ago but now I am living out the answer to that question. Read More »
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We are right in the middle of another successful Live On. Ride On. season! Volunteers, Andy and Mary Furr, have helped to make this campaign a success and below is their take on a summer of saving lives. Read More »
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By Amy Fields
I am a nurse and respiratory therapist with OhioHealth. As a member of the medical community I have always been aware of the need for organ and tissue donation. Personally, it has always been an abstract concept — one that is good in theory, but will not be tested in my lifetime. All that changed, however, the day that I found out that my mom, Judy Rae Kern had developed Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis. She would need a liver and kidney transplant to survive. Suddenly, it all became so real to our family.
My mom has always been the rock in our family. To describe her is hard — it’s like trying to describe the scent of a rose or the blue of sky. You just had to meet her to truly experience her kind and giving nature. She and my Dad were married for 40 years and were best of friends and the loves of each other’s lives. Read More »
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We started another season of our Live On. Ride On.™ motorcyclist outreach program this past weekend. Beginning earlier than usual this year, we were afraid that April showers might deter our plans. Luckily, the sun came through on Saturday, and so did the bikers!
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by James Sims II (kidney recipient)
I joined the Ohio National Guard back in the early 90s because my dad was in the military and growing up it was always something I wanted to do. After graduating from Officer Basic School, I applied to pilot training and soon learned the serious nature of a pending illness. A standard physical revealed that I had unusually high blood pressure and my plans quickly changed. Further tests revealed that my kidney function was deteriorating and, eventually, I would need a transplant. Read More »
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We’ve had a fun summer promoting our Live On. Ride On.™ campaign around central Ohio! We’ve connected with bikers in Columbus, Upper Sandusky, Sunbury, Marion, Lima, Lexington and more. Along the way we’ve registered more than 100 new donors at events and touched many more lives – but we’re not done yet! Read More »
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Donate Life Ambassador Andy Furr has been involved with the Live On. Ride On.™ campaign since it began in 2009. The campaign, an effort to reclaim the negative slang term “organ donor” thrown at bikers, has been a huge success thanks to volunteers like Andy and his wife, Mary. As a biker (he rides a Honda VTX 1800 and has already put 1,000 miles on it this summer) and a liver recipient, Andy knows exactly what it means to Live On. and Ride On. He recently shared with us his thoughts on this unique outreach program. Read More »
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Our Live On. Ride On.™ campaign is in its second year and not only is it creating an increase in registered organ donors, but it’s also receiving praise from the communications industry! The campaign received national recognition with a Silver Anvil from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The awards , considered the “Oscars of the PR Industry,” recognize outstanding achievement in public relations and the Live On. Ride On.™ was among an elite few honored at the event in New York City Thursday, June 3. Read More »
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A Normal Life
by Dominic Pizzurro (liver recipient) As a 2009 district qualifier in the Ohio wrestling championship, 17-year-old Dominic Pizzurro defies all odds. At death’s door in 2005, he’s living proof that organ transplants work.
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