Joey Gase, a NASCAR racer, poses with supporters at the Fontana Speedway.
One Legacy in Redlands is all about taking one of the most difficult times in a person’s life and turning it into one of the most beautiful.
Joey Gase, a NASCAR racer, has teamed up with One Legacy to educate the public about organ donation.
He has been teaming up with organ procurement organizations throughout the nation for about 10 years and on Friday, Feb. 25, residents of the greater Los Angeles area came out to support him and spread the word about organ donation.
About 20 students from Beaumont were among those who were able to decorate the car with pink painted dots.
When Gase was a young man, he lost his mother in an accident. Neither he nor his father expected to have to make such difficult decisions that day, but he has since encouraged the discussion and education.
One of the ways he found to open the conversation is to have those affected by organ donation add pink dots and words of encouragement to his car.
In addition to the pink dots, his car also has photos of honorees, those who have donated.
Each One Legacy selects who they would like to honor when he races in that region.
One attendee turned to look at the car, noticing at that time that the honorees for this region included both her son and her husband.
With such devastating losses, she credited One Legacy and the volunteers for getting her through those times in her life.
Many spectators have noticed the pictures and pink dots, made with washable paint, and have instigated a discussion about his cause.
Gase and his crew brought his car out to Redlands prior to the race at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, where although the weather was chilly, the warm atmosphere and welcome made up for it.
Volunteers, workers and those for whom organ donation has touched their lives shared stories.
They shared stories of decisions they had to make with no time to prepare or stories of making decisions for loved ones knowing how much an organ donation means to someone else.
They shared stories of living donations, with the gift reaching into second and third generations.
Regardless of circumstance, all participants want to help educate the public on what organ donation incorporates.
One Legacy serves the 203 cities in the Greater Los Angeles area, sending ambassadors to community events, health fairs, schools for assemblies, and other events to share stories, talk with those who may have misinformation and answer questions, according to Gavin Sweeney, who oversees the volunteer program.
One myth that the ambassadors are working to overcome is the idea that doctors and medical professionals will see the pink donor dot and not strive as hard to help someone.
One donor can help up to eight people with organs and can help up to 75 people with tissue donation.
One Legacy also works with living donors, those who donate part of their lung, pancreas or more commonly, kidney.
Jolene Vargas, a three-time kidney donor recipient, praises her donors for giving her an additional 30 years to live, time she has been able to spend with her son, watching him grow and become successful.
In addition to Gase, One Legacy also works with the Department of Motor Vehicles, who offer donation registration when obtaining a driver’s license.
How did he do?
Joey Gase came in 20th on Saturday, giving many fans the opportunity to cheer for him as well as see, and spread, his message.
This news is republished from another source. You can check the original article here