Janelle London of San Francisco, was in Spain to attend the 1992 Summer Olympics when diagnosed with kidney failure. She returned to her home town of Austin, Texas and began hemodialysis treatments. Janelle received a donated kidney that served her for two years then failed. She was on hemodialysis for 5 more years until receiving a second donated kidney in 1999. Janelle medaled in three events at the U.S. Transplant Games.

John Nothnagel of Louisville, Colorado, received donated blood and bone after injuring his neck in 1982. Because he felt a need to “repay the loans,” he became a regular blood donor in1984 and later joined the National Marrow Donor registry. Last year, he was asked to donate his bone marrow for an unknown person who needed a transplant. He was happy to share his good health.

Perry McGriff, honorary team member from Gainesville, Florida, is making his third trip. McGriff is a 30 gallon whole blood donor and has made 40 apheresis donations. After the first ride, his 88-year old father died. McGriff was amazed to learn that his very ill father was a candidate for organ/tissue donation and could help as many as 75 patients. He was glad to be able to say “yes.”

Frank Loskota of Flagstaff, Arizona, was more fortunate. He received a heart transplant in 1997 and attended a Five Points of Life event when the second ride came though Arizona in 1998. Like Pierce, he set a goal of being on the next team. He is riding “to show previous and potential donor families that their actions are appreciated, successful and taken advantage of to the fullest extent possible.”

Marsha Lewsley of San Diego, California, is riding as a tribute to her father who died of leukemia at the age she is now. Marsha is a dedicated apheresis donor, whole blood donor and is listed on the NMDP registry.

Ed Hoovler of Gainesville, Florida, has designated that his organs and tissues be donated after death, is registered with NMDP, has donated 10 gallons of whole blood and is now a regular apheresis donor. “My reason for donating is simple: I have something to give that others need. Donating is no more complicated than that.”

Peter Fort of Columbia, Maryland, responded to a blood shortage press release in 1975. Since then, he has donated whole blood and apheresis components more than 275 times. His goal is to “reach the audience of potential donors who have never had the need to directly use any of the Five Points of Life.”

Rodney Ford, participating for the third time from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a dedicated apheresis donor and, like most of the team, is listed on the National Marrow Donor (NMDP) registry. His goal is to inspire new minority donors.

Nancy Davis of Anchorage, Alaska, spent more than a year living in a Ronald McDonald House with her five-year-old son, waiting for a heart/lung transplant to save his life. When he died, it was an easy decision to donate his corneas and help someone else.

Cheryl Charles of Inverness, Florida, is an EMT and former blood bank technician. She became a blood donor in 1992 when blood donations were critically needed after Hurricane Andrew. She continues to donate regularly.