A New Kind of Athlete

There seems to be a new kind of athlete around these days. It is no longer "enough" to run in the local 5K, or even to complete a marathon. For many, it is not enough to "merely" complete a century ride (as if this is easy!). It is not enough for these adrenaline-seeking athletes to reach for and attain the average, garden variety fitness goals. What is more important is that this new kind of athlete does not compete for fame, or records, or for the world to see, but rather for something far bigger than even their own athletic accomplishments.

These athletes are hungering for something more. Sure, they want to see what they can accomplish that is audaciously bigger than anything they have done before, like Race Across America. Chris Bowlus, a board member with Team Donate Life made it clear in 2005 that this was not a stroll across america, but rather a Race Across America. The goal is to get to Atlantic City from San Diego as fast as possible. It really is not about winning, it is clearly about the adventure, the experience of living and completing it as a team.

From my vantage point, they want something even bigger. These athletes are growing tired of merely living for themselves. My take is that people are downright bored with living a self-focused life. They are hungry for ways to live for something bigger than themselves, something above and beyond what they could possibly do or achieve on their own. These folks long to live for a cause, a compelling mission to embrace and tie to their passion for extreme sports. They are seeking an adventure that is, as Lance Armstrong said, "...not about the bike."

Why would a group of everyday athletes and crew burn 5600 vacation hours, spend $250,000, sacrifice 2,000 hours of sleep, climb 5,500,000 feet in elevation, eat 750 Clif Bars and race their bikes 120,000 miles, not to mention the approximately 10,000 hours of training before the race even begins? For fun? Uhhh..., sure. For the adventure? Of course. Because they are nuts? Quite possibly. They say it helps. Because it is "there"? That line is already taken.

Close to 100,000 people in America are waiting for an organ transplant. More than 1/3 of the people waiting die before a donor can be found. The current pool of donors in America could meet the needs of less than half of those waiting. While Team Donate Life competes in Race Across America, close to 250 people will die while awaiting a lifesaving organ transplant. Another 750 people will be added to the waiting list.

From it's inception at UC Davis Medical Center, TDL has always possessed grand plans. As we approach 2007 and our involvement in RAAM, our dreams and goals only become greater. Team Donate Life alone will compromise close to 20% of Race Across America entrants. Unprecedented.

Yet, ALL of this pales in comparision to the most ridiculously huge goal of seeing 40,000,000 more Americans register to become an organ donor. In partnership with Donate Life America and dozens of Coaltiion members, TDL has been afforded the privilege of being a major platform to increase awareness, dispel myths and encourage people to register.

If you haven't done so already, go to www.DonateLife.net and register today! I did it, knowing that my life can save the lives of up to eight other people. I have no idea how long I will live. My commitment is to live well, so that others may simply live.

It really is about giving life.

KM