Good morning! Keeping our behavior in check this a.m. as we are honored to be teaming up with the wonderful people at Donate Life this weekend. We 'piloted' this event last year at one of our parks in Columbus and I will never forget it. We had a beautiful little three year old girl with blond ringlets who had received a heart transplant that year. While the trauma surgeon addressed the group she was doing turning somersaults, giggling, and running around passing out apples to our walkers. It was the sweetest thing you'd ever seen. Our message runs below:
(Heads up: You will see a few of Ohio's sites listed at the bottom of the article. To find out when/where the Walk with a Doc/Donate Life Day is in your region of the country, please contact Walk Headquarters at 614.714.0407. Thank you for your time this a.m. We know you have the opportunity to read lots of newsletters this morning and we are glad you chose ours.)
Heroes of organ, eye and tissue donation take the message on foot for Walk with a Doc's Donate Life Days
Community members and those touched by organ, eye and tissue donation will hit the paths at parks across Ohio for the second annual Walk with a Doc Donate Life Days sponsored by Lifeline of Ohio.
Walk with a Doc's mission is to encourage healthy physical activity in people of all ages, and to reverse the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle in order to improve the health and well-being of the country. Walk with a Doc was created by Dr. David Sabgir, a board-certified cardiologist who practices with Mount Carmel Clinical Cardiovascular Specialists-at Mount Carmel St. Ann's. Each week, residents from 26 states around the country gather at local parks and venues to walk together while spending time discussing healthy living and preventive care.
Walk with a Doc will partner this June with Lifeline of Ohio for Donate Life Days, a day of walking dedicated to raising awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation in central and southeast Ohio.
"Walk with a Doc and Lifeline of Ohio is a natural partnership," said Sabgir. "Many of us have questions about organ and tissue donation and this program encourages discussion of medical topics."
At Donate Life Day, attendees will get to hear from a local organ transplant recipient as well as a medical professional who is familiar with the process of organ, eye and tissue donation. After a short introduction to donation, participants will get the chance to walk with individuals touched by organ, eye and/or tissue donation, giving them the chance to chat further about donation as well as the impact it can make.
"The power of donation spreads through conversations between medical professionals and communities as they walk in the parks of Columbus, Ohio and around the country," Lauren Fitting, Lifeline of Ohio community outreach and partnership coordinator. "Walk with a DocDonate Life Days bring organ, eye and tissue donation to the forefront of people's minds."
Lifeline of Ohio invites you to join them at the Walk with a Doc Donate Life Day at the following locations:
Union County: Saturday, June 22nd at 8:30am in partnership with Memorial Hospital of Union County at Eljer Park, located at 401 E. 9th Street, Marysville.
Delaware County: Saturday, June 22nd at 8:30am at the Highbanks Metro Park, located at 9466 U.S. 23 North, Lewis Center. Meet at the Big Meadows picnic area (at the shelter by the playground).
Licking County: Saturday, June 29th at 8am at the Cherry Westgate Family Practice, 2000 Newark-Granville Rd., Granville. Walk will take place on the bike trail next to the Cherry Westgate practice.
The first 200 people who show up to the Walk with a Doc Donate Life Day will receive a free Walk with a Doc Donate Life cup! So strap on your walking shoes, invite your friends and family and show your support for organ, eye and tissue donation.
