HonorLife: Steps For Service
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Transplant Life Foundation ran its second Hon orLife: Steps for Service Challenge in the month of May. Thank you to all who participated in our month-long virtual challenge where your steps have the power to change lives. These brave individuals have served and sacrificed for our nation, and now it’s our turn to ensure they receive the resources and support they need for organ donation and trans plantation. Every step helped raise awareness for veterans and active-duty military members in the trasnplant com munity. Plus, every dollar raised was matched by Transplant Life Foundation to provide travel sti pends for veterans attending the 2026 Transplant Games in Denver, Colorado. Congratulations to all who registered and stepped up to honor those who have served and fought for their health. Whether you walked in your neighbor hood, on a treadmill, or alongside a group of friends, every step tracked effortlessly through the Pacer App made a difference. Thanks to 94 participants, including our weekly win ners profiled below, 20,844,032 steps were taken to support military families navigating the transplant process.
HonorLife:
Veterans and Active Duty Impact
The Transplant Life Foundation is dedicated to celebrating the incredible contributions of veterans and active-duty military members within the transplant community. These brave individuals have served and sacrificed for our nation, and now it's our turn to ensure they receive the resources and support they need for organ donation and transplantation.
We are proud to announce our initiative to honor active-duty military and veterans in our community who have received transplants, those who are living donors, caregivers, and families of deceased donors.
Funds raised for the HonorLife: Steps for Service challenge will be matched by the Transplant Life Foundation to provide travel stipends for veterans to attend the 2026 Transplant Games in Denver, CO, from June 18-23.
2025 Weekly Winners
1st Weekly Winner: Kathie Neyman
Kathie is a non-directed kidney donor, having donated her right kidney two years ago on December 20, 2022.
She says her life has been forever changed by the experience. Through kidney donation, Kathie has learned a great deal about the critical need for organ donors and has met many amazing people along the way. She is passionate about volunteering and advocating for organ donation awareness. Kathie wishes more people understood the joys of living organ donation — and that it’s absolutely possible to live a healthy, active life after donating.
Recently, Kathie and her husband moved from Atlanta to Camden, Maine, where she enjoys daily walks through the scenic town. She shared a photo from a recent walk along the water, celebrating the arrival of spring and the beautiful weather.
As a member of Team New England, Kathie is excited to attend next summer’s games in Colorado — her first time participating — and looks forward to connecting with others in the transplant community. She plans to compete in pickleball and is considering some swimming events as well. Her motivation is to show others that maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle post-donation is not only possible — it’s incredibly rewarding. She even feels healthier now than she did before donating. Kathie embraces new challenges with enthusiasm and lives by the motto: “Go big or go home.”
2nd Weekly Winner: Tracy Wingo
Walking 14 miles—or 30,000 steps—per day was no small feat. Along the way, she discovered a lot about herself and experienced both the highs and lows alongside the dedicated individuals who are pushing one another to new limits. She especially enjoyed reading the stories shared by others about why they’re participating and hopes to meet them in person at the 2026 Denver Games.Tracy expresses heartfelt gratitude to the Transplant Life Foundation for all they do. As a transplant recipient, she received a kidney five years ago from a dear friend she met through the running community. Staying active and leading a healthy lifestyle is her way of honoring that incredible gift.Tracy works with the Transplant Community Alliance, a local Arizona nonprofit that supports transplant recipients and their caregivers. She is currently part of Team Arizona and looks forward to attending the 2026 Games in Denver.She learned about this challenge through the Transplant Life Foundation. While she isn’t directly associated with the military, some of her teammates are veterans, and she’s deeply grateful for their service.This challenge has been tough, but the motivation and inspiration from the group have pushed Tracy to work harder—she’s thankful for every sore muscle and even her currently ugly feet! She loves surrounding herself with people who uplift and inspire, and she hopes her journey encourages others to fully embrace life.Tracy also extends heartfelt thanks to her sweet partner, Jeff, who walked most of the steps with her, shared in the discomforts, and continues to push her forward. They spent many hours walking together, talking, and watching motivational videos on their phones to help pass the time.This week, Tracy is celebrating her daughter’s high school graduation, moments like these remind her how precious life is, and how the gift of transplant has made it all possible. Every milestone, every adventure, and every memory is a tribute to her donor, and she will never take that for granted.Tracy (right) and her donor (left) celebrating their 4 year kidney anniversary together.
3rd Weekly Winner: Patsy May
Patsy earned 210,514 steps in just one week!Patsy is honored and excited to have been selected as a weekly winner of the challenge. As the wife of a kidney transplant recipient, this recognition holds special meaning. Patsy is deeply grateful for the Transplant Life Foundation and all the work they do to support the transplant community.Patsy’s husband, Ernie, received a kidney transplant over 30 years ago from his sister, Debbie—a life-changing gift that he continues to honor by staying active and living a healthy lifestyle. In addition to being a transplant recipient, Ernie is also a Vietnam veteran. He is a proud member of Team Michigan, and together, Patsy and Ernie have attended many Transplant Games events since 1998. Patsy finds the stories shared and the people she meets at the Games to be truly inspiring and uplifting.An active person by nature, Patsy enjoys walking and also stays busy working in a greenhouse—especially during the bustling spring season, where walking is a major part of her daily routine.Patsy is already looking forward to the 2026 Transplant Games in Denver!
Memorial Day Winner Lori McFate
Lori McFate Lori McFate went the extra mile—literally! After mowing two lawns and walking a total of 18 miles, she logged the most steps on Memorial Day and earned a free 2026 Transplant Games vest!
4th Weekly Winner: Di Arambula
Meet Di – a 14-year kidney recipient, lifelong athlete, and passionate advocate with Nevada Donor Network and Team Nevada. Her journey through organ transplantation hasn’t slowed her down—it’s only motivated her to move with purpose. “Walking with a mission” is how Di describes her approach to staying active. For her, walking isn’t just about step counts—it's a commitment to staying strong and healthy, a form of self-care and gratitude for the gift she received.“The main reason that motivates me to walk is to stay healthy and strong—it's one of the best treatments I can give to my transplant,” she says. Participating in challenges like HonorLife: Steps for Service has kept her focused on goals both big and small, whether it’s reaching the top of a mountain or crossing the finish line at a track meet.Di first heard about the walking challenge through her team manager and on social media, and she seized the opportunity to make it part of her training for the upcoming World Transplant Games. A proud competitor, Di has represented Team Nevada at multiple Games, including Houston (2014), Cleveland (2016), Salt Lake City (2018), San Diego (2022), and Birmingham (2024)—with her sights now set on Denver in 2026.Diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1999, Di’s kidney function declined steadily, and by 2009 she was on dialysis. After 20 months of treatment, she received her Gift of Life at UMC Las Vegas. That life-changing moment, and the donor hero who made it possible, continue to inspire her every single day.“I’m so grateful for my donor,” Di shares. “That’s why I stay active all the time.”