Rocky Mountaineer raises awareness for organ donors

Four families from across Canada took part in Rocky Mountaineer’s annual Life Changing Train for Heroes program last week, raising awareness of the need for organ donors.

This year, Rocky Mountaineer honoured 40 individuals and families from around the world that have been impacted by organ donation. These individuals embarked on an inspiring rail journey to the Canadian Rockies, and a goal was set to secure 5,000 registered donors by week’s end. In addition to raising awareness and recognizing donors, the event also provided the families with time to relax and reconnect.

Although a single donor can save the lives of up to eight people, only 15 in every 1,000,000 Canadians are registered to donate, said a release from Rocky Mountaineer.

Four Canadian families took part in the Life Changing Train for Heroes journey, including Kristy and Wade Thackeray and their daughters Shaylynn and McKayla, organ recipients from Alberta; Coral and Remi Tremblay, donor family of Kristy Thackeray from Alberta; Addison McArthur and her parents Elaine Yong and Aaron McArthur, organ recipient from British Columbia; and Terry, Heather and Emily Talbot, a donor family from Toronto, Ontario

Among the heroes on board was professional snowboarder and Olympic medalist Chris Klug, who received a life-saving liver transplant in 2000 and went on to win a bronze medal in the Olympic Winter Games two years later.