UPDATE - April 18

On April 18, Ken Abbott crossed the finish line in St. Augustine, Florida, completing an extraordinary 3,000-mile cross-country bike ride that began in San Diego, California. Welcomed by LiveOnNY staff, volunteers, and supporters, Ken’s journey was a powerful tribute to his own organ donor and to the countless donor heroes and their families across the country. At the same time, his ride served as a beacon of hope for the thousands of individuals still waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

Traveling through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, Ken’s story resonated nationwide—reaching millions and raising more than $35,000 (and counting) in support of the LiveOnNY Foundation.  Thank you to our coast to coast, state and mile sponsors!  These funds directly benefit programs that provide critical support to organ and tissue donor families and transplant recipients.

While the cross-country journey has come to an end, Ken’s mission continues. On May 3, he will ride with  #TeamLiveOnNY in the TD Five Boro Bike Tour—the largest charitable bike ride in the country—further amplifying awareness and fundraising efforts for the LiveOnNY Foundation.

Celebrate Ken’s incredible achievement and help carry his mission forward by making a financial contribution in honor of his inspiring journey.

Celebrating 10 years with a new heart!

My legs will cramp, my lungs will burn, and sweat will pour down my face as I cycle across the country starting in early March 2026. Like all athletes, I’ll wonder, What have I gotten myself into? and question whether I’ll be able to finish this journey.

But every ache, every breath, and every drop of sweat is a gift—because I am ALIVE.

On December 23, 2016, nearly ten years ago, I received a new heart thanks to the extraordinary generosity of someone I never knew, someone who gave selflessly through the gift of organ donation.

This is the magic of ORGAN DONATION. 

In March 2026 I will be combining my passion for cycling and organ donation and embark on a cross-country cycling journey to commemorate the tenth anniversary of my transplant and to honor my donor hero—along with the countless individuals and families who have chosen to give the gift of life.  The ride will begin in San Diego, California and culminate in St. Augustine, Florida.  The goal is to ride 75 miles per day and complete the trip in approximatly seven weeks.  I will be accompanied by my friend PeteTrankina and my wife Eleanor.  Check this page often for updates along the way  - I hope to be joined by other transplant cyclists as I journey across the country.

Through this effort, I will be raising funds in support of the LiveOnNY Foundation, a nonprofit 501c3 organization, which advances public education on the critical importance of organ donation and sustains programs that accompany donor families and transplant patients throughout every stage of their journeys.

I invite you to support this initiative generously, helping to strengthen the Foundation’s work on behalf of donor families, transplant recipients, and the broader donation and transplantation community. 

Please check back on this page for updates and photos as I make my way across the country. Your support and encouragement mean so much throughout this journey.

MY STORY

My name is Ken Abbott and I was a teacher at Grand Avenue Middle School on Long Island. At 8:52 am that morning while I was supervising the library, I got a call from my doctors at Mount Sinai saying that I had been matched with a donor for a heart transplant. I had 4 hours to get to the hospital. I was heading out the door to drive myself to the city for a lifesaving operation. I would like to share this story with you to show how wide an impact a single organ donation can have on an entire community.

I lived for five years with an internal pacemaker implant, after being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition that attacked my heart. A left ventricular assist device to help pump my blood was implanted when my heart had become too weak to do so.

The call actually came on December 22nd, 6 months after being placed on the transplant list and two days before our holiday recess. The news spread through the building like wildfire and people were lining up to say good luck while I was heading out. As I drove to the hospital, I was using the Bluetooth on my phone to call everyone I cared about to let them know the time had come. My family and some friends were able to spend a few hours with me at the hospital before I walked myself down to the operating room for the surgery that would change my life.

I’ve had so many great opportunities since my transplant. I proudly watched my youngest daughter graduate from college. I’ve witnessed a total solar eclipse, saw a rocket launch from Cape Kennedy, taken a full moon kayak around Biscayne Bay, and even completed several 100-mile bike rides.

One truly remarkable experience was participating in the 2018 Transplant Games of America in Salt Lake City, Utah as a member of LiveOnNY’s team. My teammates and I joined over 5,500 other participants in a 6-day festival honoring organ donors and donor families. We celebrated the accomplishments of transplant recipients and the medical personnel who made our success possible. And we paid tribute to all those who gave the gift of life. It was a life-changing event that brought together people from all over the planet to champion the power of organ donation. I was fortunate to compete in the virtual triathlon and even managed to earn a bronze medal in the long jump competition. I will be competing again in the 2026 Transplant Games of America in Denver, Colorado.

None of this would have been possible without the gift of life.