Local man donates organs; will be honored at Rose Parade
Submitted by Sabrina Rodriguez, Eyewitness News Reporter | Tehachapi Bakersfield Now

Thomas Vanderhorst of Tehachai gifted his organs and will be honored on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float.

Every January 1, the Rose Parade in Pasadena features beautiful and creative floats, but some of those displays also have a lot of heart.

The national organization Donate Life, which is responsible for getting people to sign up for organ, eye, and tissue donation, has been busy putting the finishing touches on their Rose Parade float.

The theme of this year's float is "Seize The Day" and will feature the pictures of 60 donors. One of those pictures will be of Tehachapi resident Thomas Vanderhorst, who died at the age of 47 after complications with an aortic valve surgery. He gifted his organs, tissue and eyes and was able to save at least one person's life.

There are currently about 92 million organ donors.

For more information about becoming an organ, eye, and tissue donor go to www.donatelife.net

The "Donate Life" float can be seen at the 122nd Rose Parade on Saturday, January 1, 2011.