WHY I WALK I walk because too many families are coping with this devastating chronic illness, and thousands more will face an unexpected kidney disease diagnosis in the year to come. I walk to support the lifechanging work of the National Kidney Foundation. I mostly walk to honor my kidney donor, Joey, and his family. Joey was born June 6, 1968. He was just two years younger than me. Joey sadly passed away on July 16, 1990 due to injuries sustained in a car accident. I will never forget the day I received the phone call letting me know that a match was found. So many mixed emotions. Fear, excitement, hope, and sadness for Joey and his family. At the time I did not know Joey's name. I only knew that my potential new kidney would be from a 22-year old man who had died in a car accident. It was not until 5 or more years later that I wrote a letter to my donor's family (which at that time had to go through the donor network for review and forwarding to the family-if they chose to accept it). I soon received a letter from Joey's mom, who was thrilled to make contact. There are MANY stories in between then and now (it has been almost 34 years!), but I am honored to have not only met Joey's family but to have become a part of their family, and also to have made a dear, life-long friend who was a classmate and friend of Joey's. I even had the amazing opportunity to attend Joey's beautiful daughter's wedding in 2018 - we both know he was there when that Church door opened! All of this is to say that organ donation goes even deeper than saving the life of someone in need of a transplant. It allows the families to see their loved one live on by giving the Gift of Life and connects people who instantly become family. "Without the organ donor, there is no story, no hope, no transplant. But when there is an organ donor, life springs from death, sorrow turns to hope and terrible loss becomes a gift." IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WALK WITH TEAM JOEY, PLEASE REGISTER. IF YOU CANNOT WALK AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION, IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.