Awards -- 2007 Silver Medal Jefferson Award from CBS 5, KCBS Radio, San Francisco Chronicle -- 2006 Jefferson Award from CBS 5, KCBS Radio, San Francisco Chronicle -- 2000 First Family Pledge Award from American Society of Transplant Surgeons -- 1997 Community Recognition Award from the California Transplant Donor Network -- 1997 "Most unique group to run the Bay to Breakers (the world's largest footrace) in its 86-year history," per the San Francisco Examiner, May 14, 1997. -- Winner of numerous races (transplant division): The Relay, Bay to Breakers, San Francisco Marathon Relay (Runner's World Magazine, Nov. 1997), San Francisco Marathon, Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon and California International Marathon.
This May 2nd and 3rd The Flaming Calla Lilies team will walk for the third time the 128 miles between Marin and Santa Cruz in order to raise funds and awareness for organ donation. We began two years ago to honor the memory of Ellen Schlegel, a Contra Costa Firefighter, and sister of team members Maggie Shepard and Carolyn Langford. Ellen was an amazing athlete who had run the 199 mile Relay course for several years before her sudden death at the age of 41 in December of 2004. Calla Lilies were her favorite flower- and the flaming part? Well, you kind of had to know Ellen, who attacked everything she did in life with a zest and enthusiasm that was unparalleled. Unfortunately, we have another very personal reason for participating in this event. Carolyn, a Special Day Class teacher in Concord, CA, has Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, a very rare autoimmune disease of the liver that is only curable with a liver transplant. She will walk again this year along with 10 other amazing women who are willing to stay up all night and walk, laugh, tend to each others blisters, and participate in a singular female bonding experience. We are very proud of our team, not only for having come in 1st the last two years (okay, there were only 6 teams who walked) but mostly for ranking as the 4th highest fund raiser out of the almost 200 run and walk teams that participated. This year, we are hoping to uphold or surpass that standing and can do so only with your help. Please consider these facts:
In the long run (or walk!), organ donation saves lives. We hope you can donate, and remember, no amount is too small. Just click on the"Sponsor Me Now" button at the top of this page and you will be able to make a tax-deductible contribution to this great cause. It only takes a moment. If you would prefer to donate by personal check:
Whether or not you can contribute money at this time, please consider donating an organ. It's easy, free and the ultimate gift, the gift of life. To learn more about organ donation, as well as to become a donor using your California drivers license, simply go to http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/organdonor.htm where you can get more information and register in a matter of minutes with the DMV's Organ and Tissue Registry. Thank you for visiting our fundraising site - The Flaming Calla Lilies 2009 Tami Arabian Maria Bekakis BeLinda Davies Myra Delzeit Rebecca Gayman Michele Hill Gina Jennings Paj Kane Carolyn Langford Rae McAneney Valarie Smith Maggie Shepard, Captain And last but not least our volunteers, David Donica Renee Walker
