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Team Transplant
Team Transplant is a comprehensive training/exercise program that started at the University of Washington Medical Center in 2001 to promote fitness as well as organ donation awareness. Led by 3-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, Alysun Deckert, a registered dietitian at UWMC, the team’s goal is to train for and complete the Seattle Half Marathon. The group consists of UWMC staff, transplant recipients and their friends and family members. The first year, the team had 35 members. Five were transplant recipients. Since its inaugural year, Team Transplant has grown to over 180 participants, including 30 transplant recipients.
Participants start training in mid-August, gradually building up their mileage over a 4-month period, to prepare for the 13.1 mile event. During this time, they are also encouraged to participate in informational clinics on stretching, strengthening, sports nutrition, walking technique, and hill running technique. In addition, they receive weekly motivational e-mails with team updates and training tips and are encouraged to attend group practices, held at various locations in the Seattle area on Saturday mornings.
Over the next few months, we’re going to give you a chance to meet some of our team members. They are quite an inspiring bunch and will be sharing the secrets to their training success with you.
Mark Scott received a liver transplant in 2005 and joined Team Transplant later that same year, walking the Seattle Half Marathon in just over 3 and 1/2 hours. A faithful regular to practices, his sister, Cindy Weber, her husband, Bill Weber, and their good friend, Mary Meister, typically join him. They are affectionately known to the group as Mark Scott & Co. and can be seen in a nearby coffeehouse after workouts celebrating their success with sweet rolls and coffee. Mark considers Team Transplant to be a “pick me up” and has enjoyed all of the support and encouragement he has received from team members. In fact, it is carrying over into other aspects of his life. He recently started walking to work several days a week and is very excited that his wife and son will be participating together in the Kids marathon this year. He looks forward to the day when they’ll be able to join him in training for the half marathon. Click on the following link to learn more about Mark’s story: http://www.uwtv.org/programs/displayevent.aspx?rID=4963&fID=853
Team Transplant Blogs: Read Steve and Jeannie Reynolds’ Blog
Steve and Jeannie Reynolds Read Max Haggerty’s Blog
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Team Transplant Spotlight:
