Donor Alliance’s 27th Annual Donor Dash 5K to Unite Community in Support of Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation
Donor Alliance, the federally designated organ procurement organization serving Colorado and Wyoming, has announced the return of its annual Donor Dash 5K, one of the region’s largest and most meaningful community events dedicated to honoring the life-saving impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation. The 27th edition of the event will be held on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at Washington Park in Denver, with activities beginning at 8:00 a.m.
For nearly three decades, the Donor Dash has served as a powerful gathering for donor families, transplant recipients, individuals awaiting life-saving transplants, living donors, healthcare professionals, volunteers, and community supporters. More than just a race, the event celebrates the enduring legacy of donation while raising awareness about the importance of registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor.
Each year, thousands of participants come together to remember loved ones, celebrate lives transformed through transplantation, and encourage more people to consider becoming registered donors whose decisions could save and improve the lives of countless others.
Celebrating the Power of Organ Donation
Organ, eye, and tissue donation continues to represent one of modern medicine’s most remarkable achievements.
A single organ donor has the potential to save multiple lives through the donation of vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines. Tissue donation can restore mobility, heal injuries, and improve quality of life for many additional recipients, while eye donation has the ability to restore sight to individuals suffering from corneal blindness.
Despite advances in transplantation medicine, thousands of patients across the United States remain on transplant waiting lists, hoping for the opportunity to receive life-saving organs.
Events such as the Donor Dash seek to increase public awareness about donation while celebrating the generosity of donors and their families whose decisions make transplantation possible.
A Community United by Hope
Unlike traditional road races focused solely on athletic competition, the Donor Dash serves as a deeply personal event for many participants.
Families gather to honor loved ones who became donors after death. Transplant recipients celebrate renewed health and second chances at life. Living donors reflect on their selfless gifts, while transplant candidates continue hoping for the life-changing phone call that an organ has become available.
Healthcare professionals, volunteers, and supporters also participate to demonstrate their commitment to expanding awareness of organ donation throughout Colorado, Wyoming, and beyond.
The event has become one of the region’s most recognized celebrations of compassion, resilience, and community.
Leadership Highlights Lasting Impact
Jennifer Prinz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Donor Alliance, emphasized the significance of the annual event and the profound influence organ donation has on individuals, families, and communities.
According to Prinz, the organization witnesses firsthand how a single decision to become a donor can save and heal numerous lives.
She noted that the Donor Dash brings together people from every stage of the donation journey, creating an opportunity to honor extraordinary donor heroes, remember loved ones, celebrate transplant recipients, and recognize the remarkable legacy that donation creates across generations.
Prinz also encouraged residents throughout Colorado, as well as participants traveling from other states, to join the event regardless of whether they have a direct personal connection to transplantation or simply wish to support the mission of expanding hope through organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Personalized Tributes Throughout the Event
This year’s Donor Dash will once again feature numerous opportunities for participants to honor individuals whose lives have been touched by donation and transplantation.
One of the event’s most meaningful features is the Dashboard Videoboard Tribute, where photographs and personal messages submitted by members of the community will be displayed throughout race morning near the event’s main stage and starting line.
These tributes celebrate donors, honor recipients, remember loved ones, and share stories of courage, resilience, and generosity that define the Donor Dash community.
By highlighting these individual journeys, organizers hope to inspire participants while illustrating the profound human impact of organ donation.
Honoring Every Stage of the Donation Journey
Additional honorary signage will recognize the many individuals whose lives have been shaped by transplantation.
Special recognition will be given to deceased organ donors, living donors, transplant recipients, and individuals currently waiting for life-saving organs.
These displays acknowledge the diverse experiences represented within the donation community while reminding participants that every transplant story begins with someone choosing to become a donor.
The visual tributes also provide opportunities for families and friends to celebrate loved ones whose generosity continues to impact others long after their passing.
Ribbon Ceremony Celebrates Shared Experiences
Following the race, participants will gather for the annual event program and ribbon ceremony beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The ceremony remains one of the most emotional moments of the Donor Dash, featuring personal stories from individuals whose lives have been transformed through organ donation.
Colorful ribbons will represent the many different connections people have to the donation journey, including donor families, recipients, living donors, transplant candidates, healthcare professionals, and supporters.
The ceremony reinforces the shared mission of promoting donation while honoring the experiences that unite the community.
Jenna McKinlay’s Journey
Among this year’s participants will be liver transplant recipient Jenna McKinlay, whose story illustrates the life-changing impact of organ donation.
After experiencing years of serious illness, McKinlay received a life-saving liver transplant in August 2024, allowing her to regain her health while still in her thirties.
Today, she is grateful for the opportunity to watch her three young sons grow up—a future that may not have been possible without the generosity of an organ donor.
Her experience also inspired a remarkable chain of events within her own family.
While recovering from transplantation, McKinlay encouraged her brother to register as an organ donor.
When he unexpectedly passed away, his decision ultimately resulted in multiple lives being saved through organ donation, demonstrating how one individual’s choice can create an enduring legacy of hope.
Flag Bearers Represent Diverse Donation Stories
This year’s event will feature several flag bearers whose personal experiences reflect different aspects of the donation and transplantation journey.
Scott Pinkney
Scott Pinkney represents both transplant recipients and donor families.
At age 49, he received a life-saving liver transplant after living for decades with previously undiagnosed Hepatitis C.
More recently, his family’s experience expanded when a loved one became a tissue donor following death, allowing Scott to understand both sides of the donation journey.
Hilda Chavez
Kidney transplant recipient Hilda Chavez received her transplant in 2017 after kidney failure dramatically changed her life.
Following her recovery, she recognized a lack of educational resources regarding kidney disease and organ donation within Latino communities.
Motivated to improve awareness, she established Guerreras Latinas, an organization focused on educating and supporting patients facing similar health challenges.
Her work continues expanding access to culturally relevant healthcare information while encouraging greater understanding of transplantation.
Ellie Paulson
Living donor Ellie Paulson demonstrates another remarkable form of generosity.
Inspired by a story she heard on National Public Radio, Paulson chose to become a non-directed living kidney donor, donating one of her kidneys to a man she had never met.
She has described the experience as one of the most meaningful days of her life, highlighting the extraordinary impact living donors can have on complete strangers.
Savanna LeDoux
Community advocate Savanna LeDoux will represent the many volunteers and supporters who dedicate their time to advancing organ donation awareness.
Through her ongoing volunteer work with Donor Alliance, LeDoux helps educate the public and supports the organization’s mission of saving and healing lives through donation.
Steve Rico
Transplant candidate Steve Rico represents the thousands of patients who continue waiting for life-saving organs.
For the past two years, Rico has remained on the kidney transplant waiting list, hoping each day that a suitable donor will become available.
His experience reflects the uncertainty faced by many transplant candidates while emphasizing the urgent need for more registered organ donors.
Family-Friendly Activities
The Donor Dash is designed to welcome participants of all ages.
Following completion of the main 5K event, children aged three years and younger will participate in the popular Diaper Dash, scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m.
The event offers families an opportunity to involve even the youngest participants in celebrating the mission of organ donation.
A post-race community expo will feature educational exhibits, healthcare resources, nonprofit organizations, interactive activities, and children’s entertainment.
Exhibitor booths will provide information about organ donation registration, transplantation, community services, and related healthcare initiatives.
Registration Information
Registration for the 2026 Donor Dash remains open through July 16, with same-day registration available beginning at 7:00 a.m. on race morning.
Organizers encourage early registration to ensure participants receive event materials and can fully participate in the day’s commemorative activities.
Individuals may participate as runners, walkers, volunteers, donor families, transplant recipients, supporters, healthcare professionals, or community advocates.
Regardless of athletic ability or personal connection to transplantation, all participants share the common goal of promoting awareness about the life-saving importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation.
As Donor Alliance prepares to host the 27th Annual Donor Dash 5K, the organization continues its mission of inspiring communities to support organ, eye, and tissue donation through education, remembrance, and celebration. The event serves not only as a fundraiser and awareness campaign but also as a powerful reminder that one person’s decision to become a donor can transform countless lives.
By bringing together donor families, transplant recipients, living donors, candidates awaiting transplants, volunteers, healthcare professionals, and supporters, the Donor Dash demonstrates the enduring impact of generosity and compassion. Through shared stories, community engagement, and renewed commitment to increasing donor registration, the event continues to strengthen public awareness while honoring those whose gifts of life make transplantation possible for future generations.
Source link: https://www.businesswire.com/
