LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--540 transplant recipients gathered in Salt Lake City last night to break the Guinness World Records title for the largest gathering of organ transplant recipients as part of the Transplant Games of America’s 25th anniversary. The event was organized and sponsored by OneLegacy, the largest organ procurement organization in the U.S. dedicated to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation in seven Southern California counties. A Guinness World Records adjudicator was present to verify the record, which took place prior to the Transplant Games of America’s closing ceremony at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
OneLegacy originally helped set this Guinness World Records title in 2016 during the Donate Life Run/Walk in Southern California, when 314 transplant recipients participated. This Guinness World Records title attempt included recipients of either a heart, intestine, kidney, liver, lung or pancreas transplant as well as many recipients of multiple organ transplants. A second attempt organized by Baskent University in Ankara, Turkey, gathered 438 people on May 12, 2018, to help raise awareness for organ donation in Turkey.
“We are excited to play a part in the achievement of this new milestone as part of our ongoing efforts to share the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation,” said Tom Mone, CEO of OneLegacy. “With nearly 115,000 people currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, our goal is to inspire people in America and around the world to sign up as an organ donor at their local registry or share their intent to donate with their loved ones.”
Among the 540 people who gathered this year for the Guinness World Records title were members of more than 40 teams who participated in this year’s Transplant Games of America. More than just an athletic event, the games are a celebration of goodwill for everyone connected to organ donation and transplantation. Donor families, living donors, transplant recipients and many others whose lives have been touched by organ donation, competed to win gold, silver and bronze medals for each sports category.
To learn more about the 2018 Transplant Games of America, including information about teams, category standings and medal winners, please visit transplantgamesofamerica.org. You can help save up to eight lives through organ donation and heal the lives of up to 75 people by registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Learn more at onelegacy.org or donateLIFEcalifornia.org/OneLegacy.
