November 2010
Dear Family & Friends,
Fourteen years ago, on August 2, I received the “gift of life” a heart transplant; I will never forget what it was like waiting to die. During the spring of 1996, I was given six months or less to live. I had no quality of life, I had taken so much for granted and now I could no longer chew food without becoming exhausted. My children were in constant fear of me dying. All I needed was a new heart but in order for that to happen someone had to die.
Organ and Tissue Donation was never a part of my agenda prior to being diagnosed with an enlarged heart. Consequently being told if I wanted to live I need to consider having a heart transplant. It was very distressing to learn there were organ shortages then and that fact continues to this very day. There are over 108,000 children, women and men whose lives are dependent on the kindness of strangers to donate organs.
I have nearly fifteen years and hundreds of organ and tissue advocacy presentations behind me and hundreds more ahead of me. For recipients like myself, we know every year over 8,000 men, women & children will die this year because they will not receive a lifesaving transplant.
In 1997, as a member of Achilles Track Club, I completed my very first NYC Marathon to promote Organ and Tissue Donation, since then I completed a total nine NYC Marathons. In 2006, my quest to not only promote organ & tissue donation went national to date I have completed a marathon in 32 states. In 2011, my goal is to complete a marathon in eight more states.
I know this is a tough time to solicit your help due to the recession which has led to a decline in charitable giving. But there’s one thing that’s recession proof: The need for organ, blood and bone marrow donors to save lives. So I am asking for your help despite the challenging times we’re facing. This is a cause that will touch all our lives at some point, and the time to get involved isn’t when the emergency hits your family, it’s now! Why? It’s the donors that save lives, not the intention to someday get involved.
Can you find it in your heart (and) wallet to support this cause with whatever amount feels comfortable with you? Your tax deductible gifts can be to Achilles International at 42W. 38th Street, New York, NY 10018 or at firstgiving.org. My goal is to raise $4000.00
I thank you form the bottom of my heart,
Donald