Nearly 200 organ donor supporters, their four-legged friends, and 15 local vendors joined Indiana Donor Network for its ninth annual Strut 2 Save Lives on Sunday, Sept. 7 in Noblesville.
The morning event, in its ninth year, was a family friendly, one-mile dog walk through scenic Dr. James A. Dillon Park that honored organ and tissue donors and celebrated lifesaving gifts that transplant recipients have received.
Photo provided by Indiana Donor Network
Each year, Strut 2 Save Lives shares the legacy of former Noblesville resident Bryan Clauson, an IndyCar and USAC driver who died in 2016 from injuries sustained in an on-track accident in Kansas. As an organ and tissue donor, Clauson’s gifts saved the lives of five people and helped heal countless others.
His parents, Diana and Tim Clauson of Noblesville, created the event in 2017 to honor their son and raise critical financial support for families of Hoosier donors during their times of need.
Photo provided by Indiana Donor Network
Proceeds from the event support the Bryan Clauson Legacy Fund of Indiana Donor Network Foundation, which provides financial assistance – including hotel stays, gas, food, and other necessities – to families of organ and tissue donors prior to, during and after the donation process.
More than 104,000 Americans are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, including 1,400 Hoosiers. Signing up to be an organ donor saves lives.
There are five ways Indiana residents can say “yes” to being an organ donor:
- They can sign up online at DonateLifeIndiana.org.
- They can say “yes” when conducting business at their local Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch.
- They can sign up when they apply online for a hunting, fishing or trapping license through the state Department of Natural Resources.
- They can sign up when they apply for or renew their professional license to work in Indiana through the state’s Professional Licensing Agency.
- They can say “yes” through the Health app on their iPhone or iPad.
Photo provided by Indiana Donor Network