Before donating my kidney this past September, I did a lot of research to find out how to make sure I was donating as healthy a kidney as possible! I also looked into ways to make sure I could recover as quickly as possible from the surgery. It was important to me that I would be able to continue to support my hubbie and kids in all the ways they have grown accustumed!  My search for healthy donation tips led to the discovery of all the Kidney Donor Athletes among us! I am now a proud member of this vast community of people who have donated and then gone right back to doing the challenging, joyful, athletic activities they love.

Being a part of this group has shown me that organ donation can be a new beginning for both the recipient AND the donor! I joined KDA so that I could be one of the many donors out there proving "a person with one kidney can do anything a person with two can do!" I'm especially motivated by Kidney Donor Athletes still rockin' their fitness into their 60's, 70's, and beyond!

KDA sponsored my first event back, the Lake Havasu Half Marathon and "Lighthouse Challenge," which was just 6 months after my donation! I was really proud of that race because it was my first running event in 7 years! Donating a kidney and joining KDA brought me back to running.

Now I'm working to challenge people's perceptions of what an older donor can accomplish by running the New York City Marathon on the KDA team! I want future donors to see someone like them crossing the finish line and think: If she can do it, so can I! 

Kidney Donor Athletes empower living donors to stay active, share their stories, and encourage others to consider giving the gift of life. Your support helps fund that mission! Please consider helping me raise funds for Kidney Donor Athletes!