2004 DEDICATION TO NICHOLAS, MARIA PIA AND GILDA

THROUGH ORGANS 'R' US, 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 were dedicated to three-year-old Delaney Corbitt who waited since birth for a kidney transplant. The 1999 and 2000 Relays were dedicated to Paul McVetty who waited in vain four years for a liver. The 2001, 2002 and 2004 Relays are dedicated to Nicholas Green who donated organs to seven Italians including Maria Pia Pedala.

WE REMEMBER NICHOLAS ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH
On September 29, 1994, Reg and Maggie Green of Sonoma County were vacationing when attacked on a highway in Southern Italy. As Reg tried to outrun masked gunmen, seven-year-old Nicholas was shot while asleep in the back of a car. The Greens donated Nicholas' organs to seven Italians as documented in Reg's book, "The Nicholas Effect" and CBS movie “Nicholas’ Gift.”

MARIA PIA WAS DYING FROM LIVER FAILURE 10 YEARS AGO
After receiving Nicholas' liver, she recovered, married and named her son Nicholas. Representing a grateful Italy, Maria Pia will travel to the US for the first time. She will ring a bell to signal the start of the race in Calistoga. The Organs 'R' Us team will carry the bell 199 miles to her at the finish. Maria Pia will hang the bell on the Children's Bell Tower in Bodega Bay with 140 other bells sent by Italians to express sympathy and gratitude to the Green family.

GILDA WAITS FOR A KIDNEY
In 2002, 35-year-old Gilda learned that her kidneys were failing. With 12 hours of dialysis weekly, Gilda's body runs a marathon every day to survive. Gilda's brother and two sisters in the Philippines considered donating a kidney, but failed to match. Although she tires easily, Gilda and her husband Raaj Gopal, work at Home Depot. To promote organ donation, Raaj will run on team Organs 'R' Us.

ORGANS 'R' US RELAYS THE MESSAGE
by generating $25 million in publicity promoting donation through athletics. From 1997 - 2004, the Organs ‘R’ Us Kiddie Pede (ages 1 - 15) ran to victory in the Bay to Breakers and other events.

DISCUSS ORGAN DONATION WITH YOUR FAMILY
Seek per-mile pledges and ask your employer to match your entry fee with a tax- deductible donation to Organs ‘R’ Us, 501 (c) (3) Tax ID 94-3333306. Raise $10,000 (or donate an organ!) to enter a free team. Raise $1,000 in the Organs 'R' Us " Learn to Run, Save a Life" program.

HELP SAVE 18 AMERICANS WHO DIE EVERYDAY WAITING FOR ORGANS
In the long run, organ donation saves lives.