Transplant Patients Celebrate Donor Families with Donor Dash

Penn Medicine hosts annual event to honor organ donors and their loved ones.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:23pm

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An extreme close-up X-ray photograph revealing the delicate, intricate structures of a human heart, glowing against a dark background and symbolizing the lifesaving power of organ donation.The Donor Dash event at Penn Medicine celebrates the gift of life that organ donors provide to transplant recipients, honoring the profound connection between donor families and those they've helped.Philadelphia Today

Transplant patients at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia participated in a special Donor Dash event on Wednesday to celebrate the donor families who have given them the gift of life. The event, co-sponsored by Gift of Life, allowed hospitalized patients to show their gratitude and spread awareness about the importance of organ donation.

Why it matters

Organ donation is a critical issue, with over 100,000 people in the U.S. currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Events like the Donor Dash help honor donor families, raise awareness, and provide hope to transplant recipients who have been given a second chance at life.

The details

The Donor Dash featured transplant patients, their families, and members of the Penn transplant team walking together in the hospital hallways. Patients like Shawn Frame, who had a liver transplant just five days ago, were eager to be part of the event. Bill Soloway, who received a heart transplant at Penn in 2015, also participated and shared how he has been able to connect with his donor's family over the years, despite a friendly sports rivalry.

  • The Donor Dash took place on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
  • A larger Donor Dash event is scheduled for April 26, 2026 at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia.

The players

Shawn Frame

A 49-year-old transplant patient who had a liver transplant five days prior to the Donor Dash event.

Bill Soloway

A 60-year-old who received a heart transplant at Penn in 2015 and now visits other transplant patients when he returns for checkups.

James Zimmerman

The organ donor whose heart was transplanted into Bill Soloway.

Jim Zimmerman

The father of James Zimmerman, Bill Soloway's organ donor, with whom Soloway has formed a close bond.

Rick Hasz

A representative from Gift of Life, the organization that co-sponsored the Donor Dash event.

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What they’re saying

“This is just an opportunity for us to celebrate patients and really provide hope.”

— Rick Hasz, Gift of Life representative

“It's been quite a journey, but it's thanks to people that say yes to organ donation that give people like me a second chance at life.”

— Bill Soloway, Heart transplant recipient

“He felt like family right from the beginning.”

— Bill Soloway, Heart transplant recipient

What’s next

The larger Donor Dash event is scheduled for April 26, 2026 at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia, where more transplant patients and donor families will gather to celebrate and raise awareness.

The takeaway

Events like the Donor Dash play a vital role in honoring organ donors, supporting transplant recipients, and inspiring more people to sign up to be organ donors. By sharing personal stories and fostering connections between recipients and donor families, these events help to destigmatize organ donation and provide hope to those waiting for a lifesaving transplant.