The community of Lloydminster has played host to another successful fundraiser.
On Saturday, January 23rd, the Servus Sports Centre, saw hundreds of residents walking the indoor track to raise awareness and funds for the Canadian Transplant Association.
Director of the Regional group for the CTA, Donna Krilow-Lorenz, says her favourite part of the event was the Recognition Lap.
“The first lap around the indoor walking track was a special group of people who had to either be living donors, part of donor families, or actual recipients… and they were colour-coded with bandannas… it was very special: emotional, you know, happy tears, just a very, very special moment for all of us,” says Lorenz.
The Recognition Lap is unique to Lloydminster’s Transplant Trot, as well as its taking place indoors, and being done off season for the Association. Most Transplant Trots for the CTA are done in the Spring to coincide with National Organ Donation Week.
Lorenz herself has been affected by transplantation. She’s in her twelfth year since receiving a kidney transplant, which makes the cause close to her heart. She believes being touched in some way by a specific issue or cause is what makes people really want to make a difference.
“There’s dozens and hundreds of charities out there and unless you’ve been touched personally, I really don’t know how you pick and choose what charities you’d like to support. So you either believe believe in it or have been touched personally,” she says.
The Lloydminster group for the CTA believes they’ll continue with their current model for the event, already planning for next year, and in talks with Servus Sports Centre to use the indoor track once again. They liked having it inside so they could do it in January, rather than Spring when there is so much happening in Lloydminter. Lorenz said she didn’t want to be in competition with any other charities or be stepping on anybody’s toes. The other bonus of the indoor track is not having to compete with mother nature.
Lorenz also thanked everyone who came out, especially her 20 regular volunteers with the group, and the volunteer host, the Harris family. The event raised thousands of dollars for the Canadian Transplant Association, though the primary focus of the Trot is to bring awareness, and celebrate recipients and donors.
To get involved with the group, you can contact Donna via email at [email protected].