Organ-Donor Advocacy Group Cycles into Jersey

The "Donors Rock" Ride comes to New Jersey on Saturday as David Landsberg, founding president of the Society for Organ Donor Awareness (SODA), takes his bicycle to the streets to increase awareness of the need for more registered organ, eye and tissue donors, according to a press release distributed by SODA.

This summer Mr. Landsberg will ride his bicycle a total of 50 miles in all 50 states, within 50 days. Partnering with Donate Life America, his journey started in Austin, Tex., on July 4. On Saturday, he will embark on another leg of his journey in Stirling, N.J. All 50 rides are open to the general public and attendees are invited to participate in as many rides as they can, the last of which concludes in Oklahoma City on Aug. 23.

This particular ride has never undertaken by any cyclist, the press release stated, let alone by a kidney transplant recipient.  “I try to live every day like I am earning the right to have this kidney and honor someone else who gave it to me,” Landsberg said in the press release. “A 6-year-old boy lost his life, and his parents were so gracious to give me a second chance at mine. I am always grateful for an opportunity to share my story and become an inspiration to others looking for hope.”

NJ Sharing Network volunteer, David Bird, will ride alongside Landsberg. An avid cyclist and liver-recipient, Bird said he hopes to spread the message about the importance of organ donation.

The ride on Saturday starts at 7 a.m. at High Gear Cyclery, located at 393 Main Avenue in Stirling. Registration is not required.

“It is an extension of our mission to come alongside of families near and far in support of such awareness campaigns that further the importance of organ donation," Joe Roth, president and CEO of the NJ Sharing Network, said in the press release. "I want to thank David Landsberg for this incredible national effort, and our own, David Bird for spreading the word close to home.”

NJ Sharing Network will have a table at the event for those in attendance to register to as organ donors. NJ Sharing Network is a non-profit, federally designated organization responsible for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissue for New Jersey residents in need of life-saving transplants. The NJ Sharing Network Foundation supports the life-saving mission of NJ Sharing Network. 

For information about donation and transplantation in NJ, call 800-SHARE-NJ or send and email to info@sharenj.org. To securely register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.sharenj.org or your local motor vehicle agency and say “yes” to donation when you first apply for and each time you renew your driver license or state ID.

For more information about the ride and the Society for Organ Donor Awareness, visit http://www.societyfororgandonorawareness.org. For more information about Donate Life America, visit http://www.donatelife.net.