News

Transplant Foundation Raises Over 70,000 to Assist
South Florida Transplant Community

Miracle Walk/Run gathered family members,
friends and community at Miami’s Metrozoo

Miami, FL (Nov. 18, 2008) Over 98,000 individuals await a life-saving transplant in this country; avid walkers and runners laced up their sneakers this past Sunday, November 16th in an outreach effort to educate the community about the importance of organ donation with Transplant Foundation’s 3rd annual 5K Miracle Walk/Run at Miami’s Metrozoo. More than 700 participants from across the county, including 25 transplant recipients joined forces to take this special walk on the wild side

“Miracle Walk/Run this year fulfilled our mission to the transplant community in what has been our biggest turnout yet,” added Melissa Chediak-Wetzel, Special Events Manager for the Transplant Foundation. “Funds raised from this event benefit the local transplant community by providing education, research and assisting patients in financial need,” Since it’s inception in 1987 the Transplant Foundation has brightened the lives of more than 5,000 transplant patients and families by granting special requests that help ease many of the burdens associated with the transplantation process.

CBS 4 Morning/Noon Anchor and Miami native, Cynthia Demos kicked off the walk alongside Melissa Chediak-Wetzel. Participants enjoyed a healthy breakfast provided by Whole Foods; welcome greetings from District 9 Commissioner Dennis Moss and District 12 Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz and free massages stations sponsored by Keiser University. In addition the Panther Ice Dancers were on-site to cheer the runners and walkers on throughout the zoo.

Honoree fundraiser winner this year was Kristen Logan who pooled her resources from friends and business associates to raise over $3,000. Her son, Brenner Logan, a three-year old liver transplant recipient cheered his mom on while she crossed the finish line in 24 minutes. ''I am greatly appreciative of the Transplant Foundation. Our lives were forever changed when this journey began and on the day my son received his gift of life. We all have to do what we can to help out this great cause and assist those families during the transplant experience.”

2008 Miracle Walk sponsors are: SeaDream Yacht Club, Remedy Intelligent Staffing, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Perry Ellis International, BioScrip Pharmacy, Walgreens Co., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Dan Goldstein PA, Chroniscript Pharmacy, Bank of Miami, Keiser University, Whole Foods, Popeye’s Chicken, Carvel, Cookies by Design, European Corner, and Ragaman Power Drink.