Thanks 100 Times - October 2002 Transitions

Thanks 100 Times

by Kara Doiron, BA IV

Tim Ross, BAAJ '02 addressed a significant group of people outside of Fredericton City Hall. Those in attendance included donor families, donor recipients, basketball enthusiasts and St. Thomas University Alumni.

In May, Tim Ross was like most St. Thomas graduates - planning his summer and future. But unlike many of his fellow graduates, Tim did not get a summer job. Instead, he decided to roller ski across Canada.

Tim and his older brother Mike, a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, wanted to thank families who donate the organs and tissues of their loved ones by roller skiing across the country. Their quest to thank Canada's unsung heroes became known as "Thanks 100 Times."

"These families have lost a central figure in their lives, and it's easy to forget that they did not choose to lose that person," says Tim. "They might be happy that they were able to make a difference in other people's lives . . . but organ donation is not a choice that anyone would like to make. We would like to see these families get the recognition they deserve for offering others a chance at life in their own time of suffering. The impact of their decision to donate cannot be measured in words, medals, or even kilometers skied . . . but we're still going to try."

Tim and Mike wanted to give recognition to donor families because without a special donor family ten years ago, their younger sister Jennie would have not made it to her fifth birthday. At four years, Jennie was struck with a virus that destroyed 98% of her liver. Within weeks, she was placed on the top of Canada's transplant list. She was one of the lucky few to receive a transplant. Today, Jennie is a healthy fourteen year old, almost as tall as her 6'4" brother Tim.

Tim and Mike left their hometown of Camrose, Alberta on May 31. They faced a seventy-day journey of 6,250 km. In towns and cities across Canada, Tim and Mike gave donor presentations where they spoke about how organ donation affected their family. They asked local residents to share their stories and sign a banner they carried.

The Ross's soon became familiar with Canada's highways and its people, both careless and caring. One day, they had been recklessly passed on the highway and were frustrated after they became lost. They stopped to ask for directions and received them as well as a donation to help with their expenses and an offer for a dip in a pool!

When Tim, Mike, and their younger sister Kate, who joined them for part of their journey, polled into Fredericton in July, they were met with a large crowd at city hall. After greetings by Mayor Les Hull and cheers from a group of STU students, faculty, and staff, the Ross's gave thanks to Fredericton's donor families.

Tim and Mike ended their journey in St. John's, Newfoundland in August, just in time for the Canadian transplant games where Jennie competed in several swimming events. At the opening ceremony, the Ross's presented the Thanks 100 Times banner covered with signatures of organ donor families. Tim and Mike then headed home to finish their summer - this time their trip did not involve skis.