Thank you for your interest in helping to support our team, the Lung Distance Runners.  We will be one of approximately 200 teams running in The Relay. The Relay is a 199 mile long run, stretching from Calistoga to Santa Cruz, California.   It passes through 36 cities and must be completed within a 48 hr period from April 19-20, 2008.

Our team, the Lung Distance Runners, is participating in honor of Rich Clarke, an amazing individual and good friend who received a lung transplant not even a whole day after The Relay in 2007.  

We want to help raise money and awareness for Organs ‘R’ Us so that other individuals requiring transplants can be as fortunate as Rich by getting the organs they need so desperately to survive.

The Relay 2007 and the last 6 months
On May 5-6, 2007 Team Lung Distance Runners participated in The Relay.  We participated in this relay in support of Organs ‘R’ Us.  Our team ran in honor of our friend and colleague Rich Clarke who was in need of a lung transplant.

Are we super athletes?  Generally no, but we all share a love of life and a compassion to help friends and strangers.

Just maybe… a few people do have the power to nudge the universe

Our miracle story began Friday night at Steve’s, one of our teammates from the Lung Distance Runners, whose family made sure we were properly fed and rested by providing as much food and drink as possible before we passed out prior to the start on Saturday morning.  We began the run at 10am on Saturday and ran through the night into Sunday, continuing the run all day Sunday.  The weather was perfect, the camaraderie fun, and the adventure just beginning to unfold.

The Lung Distance Runners completed the relay Sunday May 6, 6:53pm 2007

Total Time:  32.9 hours

Out of 189 teams, the Lung Distance Runners were the #1 Fundraisers !

By a long shot !!!

Rich was waiting for Lungs…

7 hours after we finished The Relay…

May 7, 2007
Monday morning around 1:45am Rich got his call from Stanford…

This was it… as written by Rich’s wife Nancy,

We received "the call" from Stanford last night at about 1:45 a.m. We were told that we had a two hour window in which to get to the hospital. About 5 minutes later, we received a second call saying to go now. We arrived at Stanford by 2:45 a.m. and Rich was taken into the OR by 3. We were told that the lungs were slotted for another recipient who was disqualified at the last minute after the lungs were already en route to Stanford. Therefore, they immediately called us as a back up knowing how close to Stanford we were.

The surgery went almost 8 hours and went smoothly. The lungs were in great shape and a good fit. The surgeon remarked that he had a very difficult time getting the diseased lungs out - they were so badly scarred that they were almost "stuck" to the cavity wall. I was able to go into the ICU at about 12 to see him. He was still unconscious but all vital signs were strong and he was doing quite well.

By 2 he had briefly opened his eyes and was squeezing my hand and raising his hand to give me a thumbs up! He was able to communicate by writing notes and wrote "hi".

He was weaned slowly of the ventilator and by 4 he was already being taken off of it. He was able to breath on his own right away- a moment I will never forget. He was able to speak a bit at that point but it was slow and deliberate. They immediately began coaching him on how to breath to expand the new lungs and get them oxygenating properly.

By the time I was allowed back in to see him at 6, the improvement was incredible. He talking a lot more and was moving his arms and legs quite a lot. They began him on various pain meds although Rich seemed quite surprised that he had any pain! He was pushing through the pain and breathing like a champ.

By the time I saw him at 10 for the last visit of the day, he was exhausted, but able to swallow meds by mouth.

I will be able to see him again at 10 in the morning and the plan right now is to get him up and out of bed and into a chair and get him walking if all goes well.

We have no way of knowing when he will be moved from the ICU to the transplant unit. I will do my best to keep everyone updated daily.

Miracles really do happen! :-)

Much love-
Nancy

3:30 pm

After an 8 hour operation, Rich survived a successful lung transplant.

5 months later…

Rich just started back at work about 6 weeks ago.  He initially started working 2 days a week part-time, but has become a full-time employee again as of last week.  It is exciting to have him back in the office. We missed all his insights and knowledge about United Air Lines, Inc.  He looks great, his attitude is fantastic and rest of us have a lot to learn from him.

Thank you to each and every one of you that helped us raise funds for Organs ‘R’ Us in 2007 and thanks for considering to help us out in 2008.

We look for your continued support to help support organizations like Organs ‘R’ Us, that help families in need as well as continuing to promote organ donation.
Anything that you can contribute would be greatly appreciated.
Please see the web-site if you would like to learn more about The Relay at www.therelay.com   

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support our fundraising efforts.

Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!