Drive for Five: Abundant

It’s a Sunday morning in the Mile High City, the sun is shining bright and temperatures are threatening to hit 70. Is spring truly here? Or, another flirtation?

This almost 67-year-old approaching nine months post-transplant is somewhat breathless while approaching a buddy in a neighborhood coffee shop. The wonderful soul looks concerned. “You okay?”

While swigging water I try to explain. “All good. The 2026 Transplant Games have competition in the 5K, it’s open to the public too. I used to be decent in the 5K. I’m going for gold.” Back in a younger time, post football and baseball dreams dashed by injury, this Missouri native started running. Realized the value to my mental well being. Ended up running three marathons, a few half’s and more 5K/10K events that I can count.

As "Drive for Five" 's creator and chair of the Denver host committee for the 2026 Transplant Games (DTGA), it’s gonna be a blast welcoming thousands of participants (donors, deceased donor families and recipients) and the entire city, region, state, nation and world. Show off Denver. The games have 20 events, a few, like the 5K, are open to the public.

It was a good week hosting the Transplant Life Foundation team and looking at sites, venues and brainstorming. Visioning about fun events that, we believe, will inspire folks to see what others can’t envision. The Denver games will be a celebration of life, donation and call to wellness, especially in communities of color where kidney/liver disease is devastating.

That makes me think of Metropolitan State University of Denver . The DTGA is working with the school’s excellent professor Deanna Hirsch and her marketing/pr students and creating an engaging public awareness campaign encouraging young adults, especially of color, to avoid high blood pressure, diabetes and excessive weight. Those are the kidney killers. Tragically, because of genetics and other factors, it disproportionately effects communities of color. For example, Blacks are six times more likely to have high blood pressure than Whites.

The DTGA host committee is so grateful for MSU Denver, the Governor’s America 250 - Colorado 150 Commemoration , the City and County of Denver , KUSA-TV, 9NEWS and the Downtown Denver Partnership for their endorsement of a six-day event vying to bring 4,000 competitors, 12,000 attendees and a $10-12 million bump to the city and region’s economy. The planning process and its possibilities? Challenging but fun. Teamwork. The key to success.

In addition, DFF’s involved with the Living Liver Foundation and expanding what’s called “Living Donor Awareness Games.” LDAG. David Galbenski 's become a dear friend. A huge sports fan, especially the Detroit Tigers, received a liver five years ago. Inspired the entrepreneur to create LDAG. The Red, Braves and Phillies have hosted. LLF and DFF, led by kidney donor and Olympian Crissy Perham, are after more.

The Colorado Rockies and UCHealth see the value. They’re combining to host LDAG at Coors Field on April 25th. The Reds are in town. More later but, hey, buy your tickets now. It’ll be an inspiring night showcasing lives forever changed when a human being shares their spare and saves another life.

DFF is committed to using sports as the connector, education the ignitor and saving lives the inspiration while encouraging more live organ donations and less kidney disease. We have too little of the former and too much of the latter.

Which gets to the question offered in promoting the “Abundant” movie. “Why is it so difficult for some people to give so little and so easy for others to give so much?” In this context, why is it a real challenge for some to consider sharing a spare kidney or lobe of liver and, for others, a wonderful opportunity to save a life and leave a priceless legacy?

I think it’s fear of scarcity. “I can’t give it away. What if I need it?” If that’s ever so? You’re at the top of the list for a new one! Education is key. Kidney disease is no joke. It’s wide spread but most, like 90%, don’t know they have it. A growing American health care crisis. Too many on kidney transplant lists and dying on them. Our abundance helps.

Would love to see you Saturday at the movie. Here’s info: https://shorturl.at/XVGDj