‘Organ Trail’ 1,500 Mile Ride Comes to Amazing End in Louisiana

Get our free mobile app

If you aren't listed on your drivers license as an organ donor, perhaps this will make you reconsider.

Last year while we were all trying to rush from the grocery store back to our little pandemic-caves one of the most amazing things happened - two people met in public and became friends.  That's right, during the year of the introvert, Hugh Smith and Mark Scotch introduced themselves to one another at Cane River Brewing in Natchitoches.  According to the ArkLaTex Homepage, that fateful meeting would change both of their lives.

Hugh Smith desperately needed a kidney transplant, and has reportedly been on dialysis up to 10 hours a day for the last 2 years.  That may soon be coming to an end as has bumped up on the national registry thanks to the voluntary donation of one kidney from Hugh's new friend Mark.  You see, Mr. Scotch donated his kidney to a total stranger in New York just so Mr. Smith could move up in line.

Not only did the plan work, someone else got the kidney they needed out of the deal! Since that whole "organ donation to a total stranger" number, Hugh got bumped up in line about 10 years!  I am happy to announce that in March, he got his kidney and everyone is doing just fine.  End of story, right?  Wrong!

Just to show how excited he is to help his friend, save lives, inspire people to become living organ donors, and probably prove that he could give up a kidney and still do it - Mark Scotch just completed a grueling, 1,500 mile bicycle journey from his home in Wisconsin to Hugh Smith's home in Natchitoches.

You don't have to be a superman like Mark Scotch in order to save lives.  You can find out more about donating a kidney while you are still alive by visiting the National Kidney Donation Organization.