Thousands Expected For Annual Donor Dash In Philadelphia

By Michelle Durham
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It may be the "Ides of March" but folks at The Gift of Life Program are busy preparing for next month's annual Donor Dash and Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness month.

President and CEO of the Gift of Life Program, Howard Nathan, says the 18th annual Donor Dash for Awareness takes place on Sunday, April 21st at 8 a.m. at The Philadelphia Art Museum.

"The Donor Dash draws about 10,000 people. It's a 5K run, a 10K run and a 3K walk. We'll have about 400 teams of people honoring loved ones of organ donors, organ recipients along with hospitals in the region who want to spread awareness," says Nathan.

Where does the money go?

"Our Gift of Life Family House which is a home away from home for transplant recipients and their families, educational programs and activities for transplant recipients," Nathan explains.

Nathan says a tremendous camaraderie exists among the families of transplant recipients, families who have donated the organs of a loved one and the members of the medical community who work with transplant patients.

For more information visit: donordash.org and donors1.org.