5K Run/Walk for Organ, Eye & Tissue Donation

Hi Team WI… it’s me again!

If you want to participate in the 5k Run/Walk for Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation on July 31st you’re running out of time to sign up!

Here is the media advisory we sent out about the event, it has all the info you need to get signed up. You have to sign up by the 16th in order to get the discounted preregistration price!

It’s going to be a really great event with wonderful people for an incredible cause! I hope to see you all there!

Here’s the media release…

WHAT: 5K Run/Walk for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation to kick off the 2010 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games®

WHEN: Saturday, July 31 at 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: Capitol Square in downtown Madison


INAUGURAL 5K RUN/WALK FOR ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONATION

MADISON - The entire community is invited to join the 7,500 visitors from all over the nation coming to Madison for the 2010 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games® by participating in the inaugural 5K Run/Walk for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation on Saturday, July 31 at 9:00 a.m.

The 5K Run/Walk is a way for everyone, not just members of the transplant and donation community, to get involved and raise awareness for the critical need for organ donation. In the U.S. more than 108,000 men, women and children are waiting for a life-saving organ donation. In Wisconsin, more than 1,500 still wait.

“On July 31st, when you say YES I WILL by running, walking or cheering from the sidelines, you will be saying that there is a way to ‘end the wait’ for those who are sick and need a transplant,” said Cindy Huber, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin.

The U.S. Transplant Games are a biennial, Olympic-style event, which began in 1990 and will be held in Madison July 30 – August 4, 2010. The event is a way to not only encourage rehabilitation benefits for transplant recipients, but it is also a unique opportunity for those recipients, along with living donors and donor family members, to gather together and celebrate the gift of life they’ve received, given or watched a loved one give.

“I know firsthand how life changing organ donation is because I donated a kidney to my brother several years ago,” said Jack Salzwedel, President and Chief Operating Officer of American Family Insurance, sponsor of the 5K Run/Walk. “I’d encourage anyone who is interested to attend these events and support the athletes and living donors, and remember those who passed away.”

The 5K Run/Walk gives everyone a chance to celebrate life. At the end of the Run/Walk there will be finish line festivities, sponsored by the Madison Area Lions and Lioness Clubs, including entertainment and awards, food and beverage and a pin trading area.

The deadline to preregister online for $20 is Friday, July 16. To register, go to YesIWillWisconsin.com and click on the run/walk dot. Participants can still register the day of the event for $30.

YES I WILL WISCONSIN t-shirts can also be purchased online and participants are encouraged to sport their spirit by wearing the t-shirt for the event.

The 5K Run/Walk for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation will be an incredible experience for the entire community.

“You will see for yourself the living definition of a ‘second chance at life,’” said Huber about the event.


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Also, we need your help gaining more media attention in smaller areas. To help promote the critical need for organ donation we need you to reach out to the media and encourage coverage. Your emotional stories of pain and triumph are what will really get people’s attention for this important cause. Here are some tips I wrote up to be sent out in a Team Wisconsin email for contacting your local media.

- Call the newspaper, radio or whatever media outlet in your area that you are hoping to get attention from and ask to speak with a reporter about a story idea you have. They may give you a reporter or they may transfer you to the assignment editor who can take down your information.

- Tell them VERY briefly about the 2010 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games® coming to Madison July 30 – August 4. (Just mentioning the fact that they are coming is enough.)The reporter most likely already knows about this so you don’t have to say much about it, the important part is what you will tell them next.

- Next, tell them that you are participating in the games as a transplant recipient, living donor or donor family member. Then tell them a short version of your story. Reporters are usually very busy and under a tight deadline, so you’ll only have about 45 seconds to a minute to tell them about yourself. Key points to hit: what organ you received/donated or how you are related to the issue of organ donation. Explain how organ donation changed your life. Also, let them know, briefly, what you’ve overcome to compete in the Games, emotionally and/or physically. Lastly, tell them what these Games will mean to you and that you are willing to share your story with them if they want to do a preview for the Games. This is just a suggested outline for what to say, you obviously know your story better than I do so if you think other points are key points feel free to share those. Just remember to keep it short.

It may seem like you’re leaving a lot out because you have to be so brief and just hit the very main points of your story to get their attention. But remember, when they decide to do the story, that’s when you get to share everything you want to tell them.

One thing to keep in mind, reporters are people so they do have feelings. If you are able to hit the main points of your emotional story it will tug at them. There are reporters out there who like chasing ambulances, that is true, but many of them enjoy doing stories like these. You have a great message to get out there and a way to empower people and promote organ donation in a way not everyone can and that is very valuable to a reporter. They will love to hear from you. :)

Can’t wait for the Games to begin! They’re almost here! See you all there!

-Emily