Courtesy photograph
Pictured are the Sportbrain team, winner of the 2000 Providan Relay. From left, standing, are Paul Thomas, Team Captain Doug Consiglio, Jason Perscheid, Jamey Harris, Rob Aubrey, J.J. White and Jeff Atkinson. From left, kneeling, are Dave Colum, Brian Abshire, Trent Bryson and Marc McManus.
Running for their lives
Local residents take part in 199-mile relay race for organ donation awareness
By Michelle Alaimo
Promoting the "Gift of Life" isn't always easy, as some local runners found out. Several Cupertino and Sunnyvale residents recently took part in the challenging 199-mile Providian Relay race to promote organ donation and awareness.
"When you pass on the baton at the relay, you pass on the gift of life," said Nancy Fox, master of ceremonies of the race. As the recipient of a heart/double lung transplant in 1988, Fox knows all too well the importance of organ donation.
More than 230 12-person teams from California competed in the Providian Relay on Oct. 14 and 15. Local Sunnyvale team Sportbrain took top honors and set a new record by completing the course in just 17 hours 55 minutes.
Sportbrain captain and former Olympian Doug Consiglio of Sunnyvale said the race, which begins in Calistoga and ends in Santa Cruz, is a unique experience. Billed as California's longest party, the relay takes runners through vineyards and across the Golden Gate Bridge in the wee hours of the morning.
Runners in every relay team run three legs of three to eight miles apiece. Each team has two vans that follow the race route, one with teammates who are resting and another with those set for their next turn.
"Our goal is to have fun, while helping to make aware the need for organ donors," said Rick Bogart, Cupertino resident and captain of the Red Hot Runners.
"Every day, 12 patients die in the United States while waiting for organ transplants," said Dr. Jeff Shaprio. "Since half of the commitments to donate organs are rescinded by family members after the potential donor's untimely passing, awareness, education and family discussions are necessary to solve this crisis."
According to race officials, more than 70,000 Americans are waiting for organ transplants, including 4,000 from the Bay Area.
"One in five people will touch base in their lifetime with someone who needs an organ transplant," Fox said. "It's the most precious gift."
The Providian Relay began in 1995 with just nine teams of runners and has grown into California's longest race with money raised from team dues benefiting Organs 'R' Us. Each team that enters the race gives an estimated time of how long it will take to complete the relay, based on how many minutes it takes each person on their team to complete a mile.
Ironically, based on the mile per minute statistics, team Sportbrain was the last to begin the race yet the first group to finish. Consiglio's team of 12 includes three former Olympic runners.
According to Bogart, where teams place isn't important because most people run the race for fun. Whatever the reason, Fox said it warms her heart to see so many runners supporting organ awareness.
"I look at them and see such healthy lungs," Fox added.
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
