Running For Your Life

Nine years ago this week, my husband's cousins lost their 23-year-old son Ben in a car accident. Sadly, all too common these days, the driver of the other vehicle was distracted by a cell phone.

Ben had graduated a few months earlier from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was just launching a career as a mechanical engineer. It was beyond tragic that his life was cut so short, but thanks to his family's generous spirit, his life legacy lived on – in the form of organ donations.

The family decided that Ben, with his caring, helpful attitude, would have wanted his organs to be donated. As a result, his kidney and pancreas were transplanted into a young man – a husband and father from out of state. John, the recipient, is so grateful he joins Ben's family and friends each year in Madison, where they run or walk a 5K race as a team called "Running to Remember Ben."

This is the 3rd years Ben's parents, Jeff and Kathy Koppa, and sister Jennifer have organized this. Jim and I had the privilege to join this team of Ben supporters today for the "Capital City 5k for Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation," coordinated by the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin.

There were more than 40 of us sporting the red "Running to Remember Ben" team T-shirts with the number 22 on them – the number that Ben wore when he played for Marathon High School. (And by coincidence, the number his recipient wore in high school sports.)

Why is it important? Every 10 minutes there is a new name added to the national organ transplant waiting list. And, in Wisconsin, more than 2,500 families are hoping that their loved one will get an organ. It was both a moving and motivating event. Jim and I long ago committed with our "orange dots" to being organ donors some day, but this made it personal.

Linking to the Orange Dot concept, participants could place little flags within an orange circle for their loved ones.

Even our team mascot wore an orange dot sleeve for a bit. But it was too hot for extra layers! Thankfully with today's temps near 90 degrees, the race didn't start until 6:30 p.m.

It was pretty special that the race started right by the state capital building in "Capital Square" downtown.

Even though it was bleepin' hot, I decided at the last minute I would run the 5K with Jim's cousin Nancy.

Here we are with the start line getting set (with some weird camera angle giving us Jay Leno chins). There were more than a thousand participants apparently, but only about 500 were getting timed. The rest just did it for a nice walk in the heat, I guess.

Boy did I forget how much I hate running when it's hot! I'm sure only running once a week and not being prepared or hydrated didn't help either But we plugged along and finished in 32:32. I will not complain since it's my first running 5K this year!

Here we are sweating, I mean SPARKLING divas after we survived!

Even took a picture with Miss Orange Donor Dot. My face is as red as the shirt! Needless to say, it took awhile to stop sweating. But you know what helped?

Gotta love a race that gives you Dilly Bars at the end! Of course, this was after I downed a water and  granola bar. Yum.

Due to a major blister on the bottom of his foot, Jim decided to walk the 5K. Here he is with his cousin Kathy, Ben's mom, before the race.

He looked to be in good spirits when the race ended but I don't think that blister is going anywhere soon.

And here is what it's all about. Ben's dad Jeff (right) crosses the finish line with John, the recipient of Ben's organs. Linked by a miracle, it's pretty darn special, isn't it?

Really had an enjoyable time seeing the cousins, participating as a team and gathering afterward for pizza at the Team Koppa hotel nearby. So glad we joined the team.

And so glad to see firsthand the impact of that little orange dot.