By Kay Rossi (KRTV News)
An avid bike rider, Sean O'Rourke isn't new to the trials of a long distance trip; he noted, "In 2000 my wife and I actually biked from Seattle to Boston."
But when he was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2008, he wasn't sure if he'd live to ride again. Luckily, Sean's wife Virginia was a match for a transplant and gave him one of her kidneys in 2009. Now, just a year later he's back on the road doing what he loves - but this trip brings with it greater importance than ever before.
O'Rourke said, "Organ donation saves lives. It saved my life. Without it, I'd still be on dialysis but now I'm out here trying to bike to Madison, Wisconsin."
Sean and his former dialysis technician Dave Orduno are hoping to encourage people to donate organs and blood, as well as show others that there's life after a transplant. Orduno said, "The ideal outcome for us would just be to spread the word, hope one or two people out there will understand the need for organ and tissue donation, and understand how many lives they can affect in a great way by signing up to be organ donors."
Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of Sean's transplant, and he says the experience has given him a new perspective as he looks to a future full of life.
When the men reach their destination, Sean will again push himself as he races in a triathlon at the 2010 National Kidney Association's U.S. Transplant Games.
You can learn more and follow their journey at CycleForOrganDonation.com.
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