Gift of Life Walk/Run returns to Pocatello to honor donors and recipients
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POCATELLO — Whether you’re a seasoned runner or simply enjoy a brisk walk, everyone is invited to lace up their shoes and celebrate the gift of life at the annual DonorConnect Gift of Life Walk/Run on Saturday, June 27.
The event brings together organ, eye, and tissue donor families, transplant recipients, and community members to honor donors’ generosity, celebrate the lives saved through donation, and raise awareness of the ongoing need for donors.
Now in its 11th year, the annual walk/run has steadily grown and is expected to draw more than 200 participants, with registration still open.
For Brady Dransfield, DonorConnect’s public education manager, the cause is deeply personal. A transplant recipient himself, Dransfield began volunteering before eventually joining the staff.
“I started volunteering as a way to give back and ended up working for the organization,” he said.
Beyond bringing people together, the event highlights the life-changing impact of organ and tissue donation.
According to Dransfield, about 120,000 people nationwide are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant, with approximately 1,000 of those patients living in Idaho and Utah. Nearly 86% are waiting for a kidney transplant, and an average of 13-17 people die each day while waiting for an organ. About every ten minutes, another person is added to the national transplant waiting list.
“One donor can potentially save up to eight lives,” Dransfield said.
The family-friendly event includes a 5K fun run and a 2K walk and is designed to celebrate donors, recipients and their families rather than serve as a competitive race.
Gift of Life Walk/Run
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Location: Portneuf Wellness Complex, 10588 Fairground Drive, Pocatello
Events:
- 5K Fun Run
- 2K Walk
Dransfield said family members of Nathan Lewis, a 6-year-old Pocatello boy who died from injuries sustained in a car accident in 2011, will share their family’s story during the event.
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Participants will also have the opportunity to meet donor families and transplant recipients whose lives have been forever changed by the generosity of others.
Dransfield encourages anyone interested in learning more about organ and tissue donation to visit the DonorConnect website, explore its frequently asked questions and consider registering for the walk.
“It’s a chance to honor those who gave the ultimate gift and celebrate the people whose lives were saved because of that decision,” he said.
