FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jeff Shapiro, MD
Organs 'R' Us
(650) 508-9700
SF GIANT'S LORI GARDNER AND KGO'S LYNN JIMENEZ TO PROMOTE ORGAN DONATION
AT THE 2003 SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE MARATHON
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (July 23, 2003) - "got the (donor) dot?" On July
27, 2003, liver recipient Lori Gardner, wife of San Francisco Giants
pitching coach Mark Gardner, and kidney donor Lynn Jimenez, business
editor for KGO Radio, will lead the Organs 'R' Us ("ORU") team in a 5K
Run/Walk from Justin Herman Plaza to Pac Bell Park during the 26th San
Francisco Chronicle Marathon.
Both women are members of ORU, a San Francisco non-profit that promotes
organ donation through athletics. According to ORU Director Dr. Jeff
Shapiro, "Every 90 minutes an American dies while waiting for an organ
transplant. Lori and Lynn will save lives by bringing attention to the
need for organ donors."
Lori, who received two liver transplants, and Lynn, who donated a kidney
to her father, will be joined by marathoner and liver donor Lisa Mullen
of Tracy and liver recipient, Sallee D'Anna of San Mateo. Lori, Lynn,
Lisa and Sallee will showcase their fitness demonstrating that
transplantation saves lives.
D'Anna was in critical condition after waiting for an organ donor for
three years. "I am forever grateful to the family that donated organs in
the midst of their own personal tragedy," says D'Anna.
"Although every 45 minutes an American family is faced with the decision
to donate a loved one's organs, less than one-third of potential donors
actually donate," says Shapiro. "Every 13 minutes, another name is added
to the waiting list. Sadly, of 82,000 Americans waiting for organs,
one-third will die before a donor is found."
For this reason Lisa Mullen donated half of her liver to her sister,
Laura. "While waiting for a transplant, Laura's body ran a marathon daily
just to survive," explains Lisa who ran the San Francisco Marathon in
2000 and 2001. "My sister has endurance that most athletes do not
understand because she trained daily to face a life threatening illness."
Lisa will celebrate her sister's successful transplant and the
regeneration of her own liver by running 26.2 miles starting at 7 am from
Justin Herman Plaza.
ORU members will support Lisa along the way. Please save a life with the
gift of life by discussing your wishes regarding organ donation with your
family. Visit the ORU booth at the Marathon Expo (Friday and Saturday)
and walk or run with ORU on Sunday. Visit ChronicleMarathon.com to make a
tax-deductible contribution to ORU (Tax ID 94-3333306) and receive a "got
the dot" shirt and San Francisco Giants hat.
___________________________________
Organs 'R' Us, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, is
sponsored by NBC 11, KGO Radio, San Francisco Giants, Chronicle Marathon,
Providian Relay, San Francisco Bay to Breakers Foundation, Providian
Financial, ARCO/ampm, SangStat, Nordstrom and Anomaly Design. Lori, Lynn,
Lisa and Sallee will be available for interviews at the ORU booth during
the Chronicle Marathon Expo on Friday and Saturday and at the race finish
on Sunday.
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