The GR8 to DON8 8k Run for Organ Donation was founded by Dr. Jeff Sadowsky, a local physician who shares passion for and understands the importance of organ and tissue donation.

Although he is currently the Associate Director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Orlando Regional Medical Center, he was initially impacted by the power of donation during his early years in training. During his Residency, he often saw very ill patients in need of transplantation.

He understood the importance of donation, but it wasn’t until October 2009 when he joined TransLife, a 501(c)3 non‐profit organization and Central Florida’s organ and tissue donor program, for a national conference on donation that his passion ignited.

It was at the National Learning Congress on Organ and Tissue Donation that he met dozens of donor families and recipients who shared their powerful stories on donation and the effect it had on their lives.

One organ donor can save up to eight lives (hence the 8K Run for Organ Donation) while tissue donation can improve the quality of life for dozens more. Last year, nearly 28,000 lives were saved due to the generosity of organ donors. Today, more than 100,000 children and adults await that precious gift. Hundreds of thousands more patiently wait for the gift of tissue donation.

According to national research conducted on behalf of Donate Life America, which assists in mobilizing the organ and tissue donation and transplant community in an effort to increase the public's knowledge of donation and donor designation, a majority of Americans support donation but more than half were unaware of their state's process for donor designation.

That’s when Dr. Sadowsky’s ideas began to flow, leading him and his friends to this event. He wanted to create an opportunity to educate others on donation while raising funds to assist TransLife with the educational programs they already have in place.

These educational initiatives include the Workplace Partnership for Life, Faith Community Outreach, Driver License Office Education, Get Carded, Decision: Donation High School program, Race for Life, Done Vida and more. Speakers/volunteers, brochures and promotional materials are utilized to support presentations and campaigns of all sizes.

Contributions from the GR8 to DON8 8k Run for Organ Donation will support these educational programs, encouraging individuals to learn the facts on donation and make a decision, officially designating their wishes through the Joshua Abbott Organ & Tissue Donor Registry at www.donatelifeflorida.org.

TransLife is dedicated to saving and improving lives through organ and tissue donation and public education, while honoring all donors and their loved ones whose generosity makes the gift of life possible.

Organ Donation Services
As the federally‐designated organ procurement organization (OPO) for 10 counties in east Central Florida, TransLife works closely with hospitals and donor families to coordinate the gift of life.

At the time of donation, TransLife becomes a critical link between a donor and possible recipients. TransLife’s responsibilities include the recovery, preservation and distribution of donated organs to critically ill patients.
The recipients of donation are identified by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which manages the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and national transplant waiting list.

Tissue Donation Services
TransLife’s Tissue Donation Services was established in 1988 to ensure that local physicians received access to the highest quality grafts for their patients. Tissue transplantation is a common treatment used to enhance the lives of all ages.

Donated bone grafts can work small miracles in the healing of many types of injuries and illnesses. Bone tissue can enable someone to move with greater ease, prevent loss of limb to cancer, correct birth defects and mend joint injuries. The results are life changing!
TransLife maintains exceptional standards to ensure the safety and clinical effectiveness of donated tissue for patient protection.

The Public Education Program Educating Central Florida’s communities about the importance of organ and tissue donation and donor designation is critical to saving lives. By learning the facts on donation, individuals are empowered to not only make a decision regarding donation but to actually take time to designate their wishes.

In Florida, individuals can designate their wishes by joining the state's organ and tissue donor registry. Donor cards are also available to carry in your wallet. By establishing relationships with driver license offices, schools, places of worship, service organizations, companies and the media, TransLife is able to increase overall outreach, sharing the Donate Life message.

Although there have been many advances in the field of donation and transplantation due to enhanced medical technology, a critical shortage of organs available for transplant still exists.

Statistics
Donation saves lives. One donor can save up to eight lives (hence the 8K Run for Organ and Tissue Donation) while a tissue donor can improve the lives of dozens more.
Last year, nearly 28,000 lives were saved due to the generosity of organ donors. Today, more than 104,000 children and adults await lifesaving transplants.
In Florida alone, more than 3,500 people await organ transplants.

More than 25,000 tissue donors and 40,000 cornea donors provide life‐enhancing gifts every year, yet hundreds of thousands more continue to need these precious gifts.

Every 12 minutes another name is added to the national transplant waiting list, and an average of 18 lives are lost each day due to the lack of organs available for transplant.

According to national research conducted by Donate Life America, more than 90 percent of Americans support donation, but only 30 percent know the steps necessary to designate their wishes.

Of the nearly two million licensed drivers in TransLife’s service area alone, only 47 percent are registered as donors.

The Facts
You can save a life. People of all ages can give a precious gift by becoming an organ and tissue donor.
Your life is always the first priority. If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, you will receive the same level of care regardless of donor designation. The doctors treating you are not involved with transplant programs or possible recipients. This fact is both law and ethical medical practice. Donation of organs and tissues takes place only after all lifesaving efforts have been exhausted, death has been legally declared, and donor designation has been confirmed. If an individual did not previously designate their wishes, the next‐of‐kin would have to give consent before donation could take place.
There is no cost for donation. All costs related to donation are the responsibility of the organ procurement organization. The donor family is not responsible for any fees associated with donation.

Faith communities support donation. All major religions support organ and tissue donation as an unselfish act of charity.

Matches are based solely on medical and geographic factors. An individual's wealth and social status are never part of the determination of who will receive a lifesaving organ transplant. A national computerized matching system is used to place available organs with potential recipients. Matches are based on the length of time a patient has been waiting, medical compatibility and the distance involved in transporting the organs to critically ill patients. National policies govern the sharing of organs in the United States to ensure all patients fair and equal access to transplantation.

Donation does not change physical appearance. Surgical procedures are utilized to recover lifesaving organ and tissue donations. The body is always treated with great care and respect. Donation should not delay or change funeral arrangements, and an open casket service is possible.

Date & Time
Saturday, April 17, 2010
8:00 a.m.: 8K
8:05 a.m.: 5K
9:45 a.m.: Awards

Entry Fee
Entry fees are nonrefundable
Before March 1 $22
March 1 to Arpil 16 $25
Race Day $30
Students 18 years of age and under - $15

Registration
Register online or Download Form
Or mail completed entry form:
Fleet Feet Sports, Attn: GR8toDON8
397 E Altamonte Dr #1470
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Make all checks payable to: TransLife

Packet Pick-Up
Pick up race number, Technical shirt, and information at Fleet Feet
Sports (397 E Altamonte Dr #1470 Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 tel. 407.772.2233) starting Thursday, April 15th from 10:00 am - 7 p.m. through Friday, April 16th from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Packets will also be available on race day at Lyman High School Stadium.

Check In
Check in starts at 6:50 a.m., on April 17th.

Awards
The GR8 To DON8 8K is designed to unite the community in fun
and fitness, as well as to increase awareness for organ donation and
transplantation. The top three male and female finishers will win awards.
There are also awards for the top three male and female finishers in
six different age groups.

Raffle prizes
Stay for the awards and an opportunity to win one of many raffle

Restrictions
For safety reasons, wheelchairs, baby jogger/strollers, in-line skates,
skateboards, headphones and dogs will not be allowed in the race.

If you are interested in sponsoring this event you may download a copy of the sponsor packet at the link provided.
Download Sponsorship Packet Here>>