W&L Student in Rose Parade
Madison Shinaberry,a Washington and Lee University sophomore from Harrisonburg, Va., rode on the Donate Life Float in the Rose Parade Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.
Shinaberry received a double lung transplant after she was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a life-threatening lung disease, which made everyday activities such as getting dressed and walking upstairs a struggle.
She was training with the American Ballet when the disease struck, but today Shinaberry is able to dance every day. In a press release from Donate Life, Shinaberry said “Given a second chance at life, I am eager to use my experiences to positively impact the lives of others. Working to educate people about organ donation and increasing the donor base has become a passion of mine. If not for the generous gift of life from my donor, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Since 2004, the Donate Life Rose Parade Float has served as a memorial to organ and tissue donors and a platform for donor families, living donors and transplant recipients to inspire the world to save and heal those in need through the gift of life. Nationally, there are more than 112,000 people waiting for donated organs and a new name is added every 10 minutes.
Each year, the Donate Life float campaign is supported by more than 140 official sponsors from coast to coast, including organ, eye and tissue recovery organizations, tissue processors, hospitals, transplant centers, state donor registries, funeral homes, donor family foundations and affiliated organizations.
Further information can be found at the Donate Life website.
