2019 NJ Sharing Network Annual 5K - Part 2

In part two of this special series, Steve Adubato goes on-location to NJ Sharing Network’s Annual 5K to speak with individuals who share profound stories about organ and tissue donation and the impact it has had on them and their families.

Guests Include:

Elisse Glennon, VP and Chief Administrative Officer, NJ Sharing Network
Bob Williams, Kidney Transplant Recipient & Kim Roumes, Living Kidney Donor
Megan Esposito, Donor Daughter & Team Captain, Gerry’s Ragin’ Roosters
Michelle and Greta, Mother and her daughter who received a heart transplant
Justin Johnson, Director, Clinical Services, NJ Sharing Network

10/1/19 #2249

Excerpt:

"Hi, this is Steve Adubato. I'm at the 9th annual New Jersey Sharing Network 5K. Some people walking, some people running. But all of them ten to twelve thousand of them, are all involved with the Sharing Network. Giving the Gift of Life. That's the slogan. But it's way more than a slogan. You've got people who are organ donors. You've got donor families. You've got donor recipients - organ recipients. You've got people who are coming together to make a difference, to share, to cry, to laugh together, to be together, here in New Providence at the New Jersey Sharing Network 5K. It's gonna change the way you look at life and giving back. Nine times they've done this. We're here in beautiful New Providence, New Jersey. We're honored to be joined by our colleague and friend, Elisse Glennon, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the Sharing Network. Elisse, we were just talking to your colleague, Joe Roth. This is big. Much bigger than you anticipated when you started a few years ago? Yes absolutely. When we started this race, this walk nine years ago, we had no idea what to expect. Some thought maybe we would get a couple hundred people. And today, and for the last couple of years, we've had over 10,000 people come together to honor organ donation in this way. Describe... and again, the beauty of this show, as you watch it, is you'll get to meet so many recipients, so many appreciative recipients. Some donors, but in certain cases, obviously donor families. Some will walk together. Meaning the recipients and the donor families, and some donors who are fortunately still with us. They gave the gift of life. That term, I ask you all the time. The gift of life. It's not an overstatement at all? No. Not at all. And in what you just described about who you're gonna see here today, you're gonna see smiles and hugs and joy, you will also see tears, obviously, of sadness, and memorial tears, but they are also tears of joy as people watch their loved ones' legacies live on in other recipients. So no, it's not an overstatement to say it's the gift of life. We always say it's the greatest gift someone could give, especially at the time of their... of their passing. You've seen this and been a part of it and making a difference for several..."