ABOUT THE TRANSPLANT GAMES
Since 2014, Richie’s Spirit Foundation has been a sponsor of the biennial Transplant Games of America. In addition to RSF’s overall presence at the Games, RSF sends organ recipients and living organ donor athletes to compete in the Games as part of Team Richie. This year’s Transplant Games will be hosted in San Diego, CA.
Held every other year, the Transplant Games of America are a multi-sport festival event to help promote the need for organ, eye, and tissue donation. The purpose is to show the world that transplantation is a treatment that does indeed work. 2022 marks the fifth Games in which Richie’s Spirit Foundation is a sponsor!
In 2021, RSF sponsored five athletes to attend the Transplant Games of America held virtually from New Jersey.
MEET team Richie 2021
Edith Navarro, Waianae, Hawaii
Edith donated her left kidney to her husband over a decade ago, which has significantly improved his quality of life. After the passing of her son, she decided to make a difference again in someone's life by donating his organs. Edith now encourages everyone to register as organ donors and educates others every chance she gets. Edith competed in the biking, bowling, and track events.
Lauren Mortenson, Edison, NJ
After her uncle experienced kidney failure, Lauren volunteered to be his organ donor, but testing identified her as incompatible. Determined to help her uncle, Lauren chose to participate in the donor exchange program through which she donated her kidney to a stranger so that someone else could donate their kidney to her uncle and give him a second chance at life. Lauren competed in biking, track, and swim events at the Transplant Games of America.
Sue Rudolph, Huntington Beach, CA
Sue received a life-saving liver transplant in 2016. As she faced various health challenges, Sue witnessed the power of organ donation, a selfless act that saved her life. For years since her diagnosis, Sue has worked to promote and raise money for organ donation. Sue competed in track, swim, and Texas poker at the Transplant Games of America.
Kai Ramos, Southampton, MA
Kai received a kidney transplant from his mother when he was two years old, and has since been a role model for child transplant recipients. Kai experienced the impact of organ donation firsthand after his mom became his living donor. Thanks to her donation, he received another chance at life. Kai competed, alongside his mom, in the Track and Field event at the Transplant Games of America.
Rick Daynes, San Diego, CA
After donating his kidney to a stranger, he felt the process of organ donation to be far more rewarding than he could have imagined. His selfless act changed a young mother’s life who can now raise her children with a functioning kidney. Rick participated in every event at the Transplant Games of America, from track to lyrics for life.