WASHINGTON, DC (June 8, 2010)—Washington Regional Transplant Community (WRTC), the Donate Life organization in the DC area that promotes awareness for organ and tissue donation, will hold its first annual Donate Life Run/Walk for Life 5K on Sunday, June 13, 2010.  500 individuals will take part in the run/walk to raise awareness, as well as to remember those who have given the ultimate gift of life through organ and tissue donation.  Participants include donor family members, transplant recipients and others whose lives have been affected by these brave organ and tissue donors.

ANNANDALE, VA (May 4, 2010)—For the second record-breaking year in a row, Washington Regional Transplant Community (WRTC) has announced the winners of its 2010 Legacy of Life Scholarship.  223 essays were submitted in the competition—the most ever.  Of these, eight essays surpassed the rest, and the writers will be awarded cash scholarships to attend the college of their choice. 

Click here to visit the official WRTC YouTube page:  www.YouTube.com/user/WRTCbeadonor.

WASHINGTON, DC (DECEMBER 4, 2009)—For the first time, a native of our nation’s capital will be honored on the Donate Life Float during the 121st Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2010.  The honoree, Jessica Marie Ward of Washington, DC, became a tissue donor when she died in 2003 at Providence Hospital.  Through Jessica’s decision to give the gift of life through tissue donation, she was able to save and enhance the lives of 23 individuals.  Because of this noble gift, Jessica’s parents and sisters will travel to Pasadena, CA, to honor her on the 7th annual Donate Life Rose Parade Float.  The Donate Life float in the Rose Parade is the largest public celebration of organ and tissue donation in the country.

RESTON, VA (October 13, 2009)—The family of Tim Susco, who died of a brain aneurysm in 2007, will hold the second annual Brain Aneurysm Race for Awareness 8K in his memory.  The race will benefit the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, supporting brain aneurysm research, as well as Washington Regional Transplant Community (WRTC), supporting organ and tissue donation.  The 8K race will begin at 9am on Saturday, October 17 at South Lakes High School (11400 South Lakes Dr), with the 2K “fun run” beginning at 9:05am.

CHEVERLY, MD (September 22, 2009)—Donate Life Maryland (DLMD), the organization dedicated to saving and enhancing lives by registering organ, eye and tissue donors in the state, along with Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) announced the completion of their years-long project to combine the MVA’s organ and tissue donor designation data with that of the state’s online registry, www.donatelifemaryland.org.  The project was made possible with oversight by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

WASHINGTON, DC (September 15, 2009)—5-year-old Nicholas Ramirez normally cheers his favorite soccer team from his living room in Herndon, VA.  But on Saturday, October 3rd, he will be rooting for his favorite soccer club from the field.  Nicholas, who is not only a huge soccer fan and supporter of DC United, is also a big-time fan of organ and tissue donation.  This 5-year-old is enthusiastic about donation for one reason: at two months of age, Nicholas received a life-saving liver transplant.  Because of this—and because of his family’s desire to educate people about the need for organ and tissue donors—DC United has decided to name Nicholas as their junior team captain on October 3rd’s match against Chivas USA.  Kickoff begins at 7:30pm at RFK Stadium.

WASHINGTON, DC (July 27, 2009)—National Minority Donor Awareness Day (NMDAD) is August 1st, and Washington Regional Transplant Community (WRTC) is partnering with National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) to encourage people of all backgrounds to register to become organ and tissue donors.  This initiative will be the focus of a community health fair that will take place this Saturday, August 1, from 10am until 2pm.  This free event, to be held at the Super Giant Grocery Store (1535 Alabama Avenue, DC), will not only focus on the need for organ and tissue donors, but will also feature a bone marrow registry drive, healthy cooking and fitness demonstrations, cancer screenings, sickle cell screenings, HIV testing, diabetes screening and vision tests.  Several other events will continue throughout the month.

ASHBURN, VA (May 27, 2009)—The family of Herndon resident Paul Rossmeissl, who died in a tragic bicycling accident in 2006, will honor his memory and his legacy as an organ and tissue donor with a bike ride entitled “Paul’s Ride for Life.”  The bike ride will be held on Saturday, June 6 from 7am to 12pm, at Paul’s favorite trail, the Washington and Old Dominion Trail in Ashburn, VA.  Proceeds from the ride will benefit Washington Regional Transplant Community (WRTC), the local non-profit organ procurement organization in the DC metro area—WRTC facilitated Paul’s donation.

ANNANDALE, VA (May 15, 2009)—This year a record-breaking 177 essays were submitted in Washington Regional Transplant Community’s (WRTC) Legacy of Life Scholarship competition.  Of these, five essays surpassed the rest, and the writers will be awarded cash scholarships to attend the college of their choice.