April 27th at Delaware Park
April is Donate Life Month.
We invited our donor families to help us plant in our memorial garden to honor their loved ones, who were organ, eye or tissue donors.
Several donor families came out to plant shrubs in the Donate Life Garden in Delaware Park in Buffalo. The sun was shining on us, as we enjoyed the weather, planting and company.
Thanks to everyone who came out to help us celebrate life!
Smiles for a job well done!
On September 13th, Donor families and friends helped beautify the Unyts Donate Life Memorial Garden in Delaware Park. Mother Nature provided gardeners with beautiful sunshine for the planting! The garden was created in 2011, as a place for reflection and remembrance for donor families and friends. We are so grateful for the support of this garden, which will grow and flourish each year.
Looking good!
Kim Christensen and Sienna, holding a photo of their hero, Jackson
We would love to say that it was a perfect day for the Donate Life Walk, but alas, Mother Nature was certainly not cooperative for participants on September 8th. The rains started early Saturday morning and didn’t stop until long after the walk was over. But we made it work!
Despite the heavy rain and wind, over 250 walkers took part in the 1.78 mile walk around the ring at Delaware Park in Buffalo. After the rainy walk, particpants dried off while having lunch and enjoying some of the activities under the kids tent.
Unfortunately, we were unable to go ahead with the planting in our memorial garden because of the weather, but our donor families will be putting new shrubs and flowers into the ground to make the memorial garden even more memorable.
A huge “Thank You” to all of our walkers and volunteers for continuing to help us spread awareness for organ, eye, tissue and blood donation!
Marcena Lozano was born on February 7, 1980. Immediately upon her birth it was clear there was something wrong as her beautiful tiny body turned a dusky blue. Within 24 hours she would have the first of many surgeries and procedures necessary to keep her alive. Most notable among them were a heart transplant at age 13 and another at age 23. Her journey molded her into a caring, courageous, determined and fiercely resilient young woman. And with all that, she brought a love for the small moments in life and the ability to find humor in the darkest ones. Marcena’s focus on her future got her through many difficult times. Her dream to become a social worker, helping chronically ill children and adolescents through the complicated challenges they’d face along the way, provided the drive to obtain her degree.
Marcena’s path to fulfill her dream ended on August 31, 2005 but her spirit lives on to touch the lives of others. The Marcena Lozano Donate Life Scholarship Fund is awarded to amazing young adults remaining steadfast in their dreams to give back to a world that has given them new life. How do you thank a donor family or living donor in a more meaningful way than to make the most of the new life you’ve been so lovingly given? Marcena’s dream lives on through these scholarship recipients.
The Marcena Lozano Lozano Donate Life Scholarship Fund has awarded nearly $80,000 over the past 5 years to organ transplant recipients who demonstrate financial need.
The 6th Annual Elephant Run is the scholarship’s major fund-raising event and will be held at 9:30 am on Mother’s Day May 13th at the Marcy Casino on Delaware Park’s Hoyt Lake. This family event offers a 4 mile run/walk; 1 mile fun run/walk; numerous raffle prizes; races and crafts for young children; Zumba; drum circle; food; music and more! Volunteers and raffle/baked goods donations as well as participants are still needed! For more information about Marcena, the scholarship and this year’s Elephant Run visit marcenasmiracles.com or contact the Lozanos at admin@marcenasmiracles.com or 836-7045.
Your support is so greatly appreciated! The Elephant Run is a true celebration of life, because an elephant never forgets…
It may have been a chilly Saturday, but it didn’t stop some of our donor families from taking part in the planting of our “Donor Family Memorial Garden”
on April 28th. What better way to honor a loved one than a beautiful tree that will grow in the crown jewel of Buffalo’s Olmsted Parks.
Families came to Delaware Park to plant trees and flowers in memory of their loved ones.
The garden was created last year, and this planting will become an annual event. We hope to have another planting during the annual Donate Life Walk, held on September 8th.
Events for April
April 1st-The Peace Bridge will be lit with green & blue, the colors of “Donate Life”.
April 17th – Niagara County Legislature presentation, 6:45pm Lockport Courthouse
April 20th – Bucket List Bash at Statler City-5:30-8:30PM
April 27th – Lighting of Niagara Falls – Green lights every 15 minutes for Donate Life Awareness
April 23rd Week – Unyts Spirit Week– activities will be planned for each day
April 28th – Donate Life Memorial Garden planting, Delaware Park
Hospital Awareness Day – 1 day in each hospital with information table, possible speaker, etc.
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