1998 DEDICATION TO DELANEY, ALEXANDRIA AND PAUL

THROUGH ORGANS 'R' US ("ORU"), THE RELAY PROMOTES DONATION.
The transfer of the baton from runner to runner symbolizes the transfer of an organ from donor to recipient. The 1997 and 1998 Relays are dedicated to 3-year-old Delaney Corbitt who waited for a kidney transplant since birth. Delaney is one of more than 58,000 Americans, including 2,000 children, waiting for organ donors. These transplant candidates have endurance that many athletes do not understand because they train on a daily basis to face a life threatening illness.

DELANEY'S NEEDS A KIDNEY.
Before birth, a blood clot formed in Delaney's renal vein adjacent to one of her kidneys. Just after birth, the blood clot increased in size damaging her second kidney. With only one kidney functioning at 10% of normal, Delaney had dialysis, a process which which filters waste products from her blood that her kidneys can no longer remove.

ALEXANDRIA SAVES OTHER CHILDREN.
While riding her bicycle on August 28, 1997, seven-year-old Alexandria was hit by a car in front of her house. In their grief, the Cotti family brought life from tragedy and donated one of Alexandria's kidneys to Delaney. Alexandria's family understood the importance of organ donation because Alexandria's grandfather had received a kidney transplant seven years ago. Alexandria's parents knew that their daughter's life could not be saved, but donating her organs would save Delaney and other children.

PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOWS SUPPORT.
Demonstrating that transplantation saves lives, transplant recipients showcased their fitness by completing The 1997 Relay in 31 hours with Delaney's family. While runners crossed The Relay finish on September 20, 1997, President Clinton signed a Relay shirt for Delaney at Stanford Hospital. On March 19, 1998, Alexandria Corbitt, Delaney's sister, was born and named after the special child who donated her kidney to Delaney.

PAUL WAITS FOR A LIVER.
As an inspirational volunteer, we honor 44-year-old Paul McVetty who was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 1992. Over the next four years, the virus destroyed Paul's liver. Since Hepatitis C can incubate for 25 years, it is likely that Paul became infected while using intravenous drugs as a teenager. In addition to being drug free for 21 years, Paul counsels young adults in drug rehabilitation programs in San Francisco and Marin. As a dedicated Relay volunteer, Paul attends meetings and works during The Relay even if he is not feeling well and is quick to offer kind words and a big hug.

ORU RELAYS THE MESSAGE BY GENERATING $5 MILLION IN PUBLICITY PROMOTING
donation through The Relay, Bay to Breakers and San Francisco Marathon. In 1997 and 1998, the ORU Kiddie Pede (children's centipede, ages 1-15) ran to victory in Bay to Breakers.

DISCUSS YOUR PERSONAL WISHES REGARDING ORGAN DONATION WITH YOUR FAMILY.
Run, volunteer or donate an organ(!) to shorten the time Paul and others must wait for a donor. Ten Americans die each day waiting for a transplant. In the long run, organ donation saves lives.