Donor Alliance Hosts Illinois Donor Mother to Represent the Miracle of Organ Donation in 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade(R)

DENVER, CO--(Marketwire - Dec 27, 2011) - Through his death in September 2010, United States Air Force Academy Cadet First Class Marc Henning gave the ultimate gift -- the gift of life -- to many through the donation of his lungs, kidneys, pancreas, liver, skin and bone. To honor Marc's gift, his mom, Linda Henning, will join 27 other float riders on the ninth annual Donate Life Rose Parade float, One More Day. These 28 riders will represent deceased organ, eye and tissue donors, living donors and transplant recipients in the 123^rd Tournament of Roses Parade. Marc will also be honored visually as one of 72 floragraph (floral portrait) honorees adorning the One More Day float entry. The float embodies the nation's most visible campaign to inspire people to save and heal lives as registered organ, eye and tissue donors.

Watching and cheering Linda on from the Rose Parade Grandstands will be her husband Van alongside Robert Lee Logan, the recipient of Marc's left kidney and veteran of the U.S. Navy. Linda Henning's participation in the parade and the attendance of the Henning and Logan families is sponsored by Donor Alliance, the federally-designated, non-profit organ procurement organization serving Colorado and most of Wyoming. The families met for the first time in Colorado during a ceremony hosted on October 6, 2011 where Donor Alliance was recognized for its participation in the Military Organ Sharing Program. United States Air Force Academy Cadet First Class Marc Henning was one of the kidney donors and Linda and Van attended the award ceremony in Denver alongside recipient Robert Lee Logan.

"Donor Alliance is proud to participate in the Donate Life Rose Parade float campaign for the seventh consecutive year and hopes to continue to be a part of this national vision to heighten awareness about donation throughout our country," said Sue Dunn, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. "We are honored to sponsor rider, Linda Henning, whose son's gift of life provided transplant recipients like Robert the chance to embark on one more day. It is our hope that the float riders, walkers and honorees will inspire all Americans to join their local organ and tissue donor registries."

Logan explained, "Prior to my transplant, I was on dialysis for five years and on the transplant waiting list for three. Marc's gift has changed my life. I have felt better than I've felt in years, have gone back to work, am planning a trip with my wife and can swim and play in the ocean with my grandkids for the first time. I am honored to have part of such a wonderful person, Marc, within me."

A senior at the Academy when he ended his life, Marc's gifts live on in strangers as well as in his mom who received a graft of Marc's bone during a dental procedure in July 2011.

"Marc again became a part of me," Linda said. "I will not only keep his spirit in my heart but a piece of him lives on within me as well."

According to Dunn, more than 28,000 lives are saved each year in the United States through the gift of organ, eye and tissue donation, giving hope to the nearly 112,000 people in the U.S. and more than 2,000 people in Colorado and Wyoming who are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Of those waiting in Colorado, 71 percent are in need of a kidney and one out of five current transplant candidates have been on the waiting list for five years or longer.

The One More Day float, inspired by floral clocks and clock towers from around the world, features six enormous floral timepieces which will be adorned with 72 memorial floragraphs of deceased donors whose gifts gave life and time to so many. A rose dedication garden honors more than 3,000 people worldwide; each vialed rose will bear a personal message of love and remembrance, while the garden's clock hands will turn backwards in a nod to the thousands of memorial dedications. Anchoring the float is a 33-foot clock tower with a rotating sun/moon dial reminding us to make each passing day count. For more information about the Donate Life float please visit www.donatelifefloat.org.

The 123^nd Rose Parade presented by Honda, themed Just Imagine, will take place Monday, January 2, 2012, at 8 a.m. (PST) featuring majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands. Following the parade, the 98th Rose Bowl Game will kick off at 2:10 p.m. and feature a match-up between two of the top collegiate football teams in the nation. For additional information on the Tournament of Roses please visit the official website at www.tournamentofroses.com.

Coloradans can register their decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor in the following ways:

• Online at DonateLifeColorado.org
• At the Driver's License Office the next time you obtain or renew your driver's license
• By calling 1-888-256-4386

About Donor Alliance
Donor Alliance is the federally-designated, non-profit organ procurement organization and an American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) accredited tissue bank serving Colorado and most of Wyoming. As a recognized leader in facilitating the donation and recovery of transplantable organs and tissues, Donor Alliance's mission is to save lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. To achieve this mission, Donor Alliance employs an effective family approach and recovery programs in more than 100 hospitals. Donor Alliance also inspires the public to register as organ and tissue donors through community partnerships, public outreach and education campaigns throughout its donation service area.