River Run raises funds for organ transplant recipients

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – April is “Donate Life” month, a time to encourage organ donation. To honor the occasion, the University of Rochester Medical Center held an “Organ Transplant River Run” to raise funds to support patients waiting for, or recovering from, organ transplant surgery.      

One family helped by organ donation explained the life-changing impact of a single donation.

“I think our family is an example, at the time, we were dating, life was so much ahead of us. So much to do. So many goals not yet attained and now we’re here. And now I have my wife, my kid, and we’re growing, and so many people are being affected by the work we do on Canandaigua Lake,” said Shane Collins, organ recipient.

“He wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for organ donation. I’d be standing here alone,” said Renee Collins, Shane’s wife.

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, more than 42,000 people got life-saving organ transplants, just last year.