Fundraiser for Donor Network West & Evan Kincade
Donation protected
I will be raising money for Donor Network West, the organ and tissue recovery organization for Northern California and Nevada, while I thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail.
My brother died very suddenly in 2016. After his late night car accident, he was put on life support at the hospital less than one mile from where the accident occurred. Even though his body was alive when they brought him to the hospital, his brain was dead. This meant that if taken off of life support he would die, despite our hopes and prayers.
Out of that despair rose a light. My brother had decided to become an organ donor ten years before his death by choice. He and his friends consciously decided to become donors after seeing their friend go through a heart transplant. Once we said goodbye to my brother one last time, left the hospital for good, and went on with our lives we started getting letters from recipients that had received an organ as a result of my brother’s death.
So many people were affected by my brother’s decision to give what he had left after death. That swirling of sadness and joy I felt when I read the first recipient letter my parents had received is a feeling that I’ll never forget. My brother lives on through others. I want everyone to know the gift you can give to others who need it by registering as an organ donor. That’s why I’m dedicating the miles I hike to all those people out there that made a deliberate decision to become a donor and help those who need it.
All the donations to this campaign will go directly to Donor Network West to help them continue their life-saving mission. I will not be keeping any of the money from this campaign.
And, if you haven’t done so already, register as an organ donor at https://www.donornetworkwest.org/register-organ-donor/
My brother died very suddenly in 2016. After his late night car accident, he was put on life support at the hospital less than one mile from where the accident occurred. Even though his body was alive when they brought him to the hospital, his brain was dead. This meant that if taken off of life support he would die, despite our hopes and prayers.
Out of that despair rose a light. My brother had decided to become an organ donor ten years before his death by choice. He and his friends consciously decided to become donors after seeing their friend go through a heart transplant. Once we said goodbye to my brother one last time, left the hospital for good, and went on with our lives we started getting letters from recipients that had received an organ as a result of my brother’s death.
So many people were affected by my brother’s decision to give what he had left after death. That swirling of sadness and joy I felt when I read the first recipient letter my parents had received is a feeling that I’ll never forget. My brother lives on through others. I want everyone to know the gift you can give to others who need it by registering as an organ donor. That’s why I’m dedicating the miles I hike to all those people out there that made a deliberate decision to become a donor and help those who need it.
All the donations to this campaign will go directly to Donor Network West to help them continue their life-saving mission. I will not be keeping any of the money from this campaign.
And, if you haven’t done so already, register as an organ donor at https://www.donornetworkwest.org/register-organ-donor/
Fundraising team (2)
Alex Kincade
Organizer
Martinez, CA
Michael Freise
Team member