The Moose Jaw Transplant Trot is an independently run not-for-profit organization that hosts a yearly running and walking event in Moose Jaw. The purpose of the organization’s trot is to help raise awareness, celebrate life after a transplant, and to help increase the number of registered organ and tissue donors in Canada.
Transplant Trots are also held in several cities across Canada as part of a national movement organized entirely by local volunteers to raise funds in support of the Canadian Transplant Association.
After the recent donation of a hand-made quilt, the Moose Jaw Transplant Trot is holding a further fall and winter fundraiser draw to support its efforts.
“The story on the quilt is that it was being made for someone who was waiting for a transplant,” explained Kevyn Gadd, the son of Ferdinand Frey and Roxanna Gadd-Frey who organize the trot in Moose Jaw.
“Unfortunately, (the intended recipient) didn’t make it long enough to receive the transplant, so a decision was made that they would donate the quilt to the Moose Jaw Transplant Trot in order to raffle off to raise more money and further raise awareness for our cause,” he said. Out of respect for the family, the quilt’s intended recipient has not been named.
The top portion of the quilt was made and contributed by Carol and David Marshall, and the project was quilted by Wendy Findlay.
The design of the quilt was also custom-made. “The intended recipient loved chocolate and sweets, so the quilt has those aspects on it,” Gadd explained. “It’s a beautiful quilt and they should get recognition for such nice work.”
Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to support upcoming Moose Jaw Transplant Trot awareness events and most of the money will be donated to the Canadian Transplant Association.
“First and foremost, we send almost all (funds we raise) to the Canadian Transplant Association as we are members under that banner. They are the ones who decide where the money goes, (either) for promotion or awareness,” said Gadd.
“And then we also use (the funds) for the events we throw, whether it be going forward with our transplant trot, the golf tournament, or things like that,” he added. One example of the organization’s outreach is the recent Aug. 19 golf tournament fundraiser held at the Deer Ridge Golf Course.
As part of the national-level organization, light green campaign ribbons can be seen in multiple settings to help spread awareness, including a local cement truck, hockey rinks around the country, and on city bus advertisement campaigns during the organ and tissue donor awareness month in April.
Gadd said the organization wanted to do something a bit different when it comes to a big-ticket item such as this, and that thinking is what led to the idea for the quilt raffle.
Beyond the raffle, no further fundraising events have been planned until the group meets later in January to discuss an approach for the following year. Similarly, the next annual Transplant Trot event is being considered but a date and location have yet to be determined.
“We are excited this year (for 2024). It will be Kevyn’s Transplant Trot, but it will be celebrating 10 years since I’ve had my transplant,” Gadd explained.
Gadd was born with a hole in his heart and pulmonary hypertension, and at the age of four he had to undergo an open-heart surgery from a specialist in Toronto. Throughout his childhood, Gadd faced several limitations from the condition and had to rely on medication for his day-to-day life.
In February of 2014, Gadd received a lung transplant that saved his life.
“(My anniversary date) is a couple months before (the trot will take place), but you don’t want to be doing a walk or anything in February, because it’s a little cold still,” he said. The upcoming fundraiser will also be a celebration of Gadd’s 10-year transplant anniversary and is likely to take place around the end of May.
“The transplant trot brings people together who have had transplants. Maybe they know someone who has had transplants, (or) maybe they are someone who has donated (tissue or an organ),” explained Gadd.
Tickets for the quilt raffle cost $10 apiece, and payment can be made by e-transfer to [email protected].
There are no set number of tickets, and the raffle will continue up to the date of the draw on Dec. 18.
Donations can also be made at any time by visiting the ‘Moose Jaw Transplant Trot’ Facebook page for details or by sending a message to [email protected].
More information is available online at MJTransplantTrot.ca.
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