Lone Star Circle of Life Bike Tour

Local Events: Bryan/College Station

Day 1:

Saturday, October 3, 2009
Houston to Bryan/College Station

The Lone Star Circle of Life team will leave Houston for College Station at 9:45 a.m. following the kick off event in Houston. The team will arrive in Bryan that afternoon at 5:00 p.m. and ride to the Palace Theater, 105 Main Street in Bryan. After the honorees meet the rider that rode for them to Bryan, a presentation will follow where the riders will be introduced. They will then tell why they are riding and introduce the honoree they rode for. A drive for the National Marrow Donor Program will be held as well as a registration drive for the Texas Organ Donor Registry.

Event Coordinator

For more information, contact:

Jennifer Cmajdalka or Luke Potts
Scott & White Marrow Donor Program
1600 University Dr.
College Station, TX
Phone: 979-691-6670
lnpotts@swmail.sw.org

Day Riders

.
Denise Van Kuiken – “I am fortunate to work for LifeGift. Every day in my work I see incredible people, who, in their time of grief can still think of others and say “YES” to organ and tissue donation. I ride in honor of them and the people they have saved!”

Kimberly Davis – “As a Managing Director at LifeGift, I've worked to further organ and tissue donation in southeast Texas for the past 20 years. I so enjoyed the two times I've ridden before and I'd be very proud to do so again.”

Beatrice Hodgson – “I want to ride to raise awareness on organ and tissue donation.”

Steve Marucci – “I’m involved with Organ and Tissue donation on a daily basis. I lead teams in the recovery of organs and tissues for transplantation in addition to educating the public on the uses and needs for donation.”

Jessica Leibold - Jessica rides because she believes in organ and tissue donation as a gift.

Ken Cole - Ken rides to support donation.

Basil Housewright – The tour title honoree, Brian Brasseaux, was a friend and his family continue to be my family’s friends. His widow Christine is a running coach of our local marathon training group. Her strength to persevere inspire us all. I am a cancer survivor, diagnosed with non-hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1999. I run marathons and have completed four MS-150 rides. I love riding and am honored to be a day rider with the team.

Honorees

Brian Brasseaux - Organ Donor
Brian Brasseaux was a loving husband, father, brother and friend. Married to his high-school sweetheart, Christine, for 17 years, they shared a love that a lot of people never have the opportunity to experience. Unfortunately, their life together ended abruptly on November 4, 2007.

On November 4, 2007, Brian went out for a bike ride. It was time for dinner and Christine has sent their oldest son, Trey, to call Brian in. Trey found his father lying on the ground at the front door and came to tell Christine something was wrong. Christine started CPR, but Brian did not make it.

The Brasseaux family was devastated. They had lost their fabulous father and Christine had lost the love of her life. Christine knew immediately that Brian would want to give his organs to anyone who might need them. That decision was easy. Christine was asked to donate his eyes, his skin and even his heart. In true Aggie spirit, the last thing they asked Christine for was Brian’s thumb. Christine’s response was “of course you can have the Aggie thumb!”

The Brasseaux’s are blessed to have each other and are thankful that Brian was in their life for as long as he was. Christine knows her life is better for having known him and loved him. Her focus is now on their children and raising them to be as caring, loving, loyal and decent as their father was.

Spencer Squire - Organ and Tissue Donor
Life is a circle. Although Spencer Squire's circle was small, it was complete, whole and fulfilled.

Spencer loved all things Aggie – a kid who was so excited to meet, get autographs, and take pictures with Aggie greats. Unfortunately, last August, Spencer collapsed from the rupture of a malignant, stage 4 brain tumor which had no symptoms. Never feeling sick, he spent his last month touring England, attending swimming lessons, running drills at football camp and shooting hoops with his neighbors. Playing with his younger brother Ryan and spending time with his teammates and friends reflected Spencer's enduring and giving spirit.

And it was this same spirit that encouraged his family to donate Spencer's organs. Spencer had supported his friends and teammates and now he could offer a teammate his greatest gift - life! God held his draft….Spencer was picked first round and now it was time to recruit a few good players. Spencer picked Jana Cox who received his liver but he needed a few more teammates for Jana. Luckily, his heart valves saved four more lives. Spencer's team was complete.

Spencer's circle continues: in the construction of a playground at Boon Elementary School in Allen; in a scholarship in the Department of Education at A&M; and in the Texas A&M Baseball facility improvements at Olsen Field.

Spencer was be featured as the title honoree in the Lone Star Circle of Life Bicycle Tour in 2008 to promote organ, tissue, bone marrow and blood donation. In true Aggie "12th Man" spirit, the 12 riders made the 600 mile trek across Texas and they truly celebrated Spencer Squire's Circle of Life.

Spencer's legacy will continue as he has been selected to have his picture on one of forty floragraphs decorating the Organ Donation Float at the 2010 Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena. His picture will be made out of roses and displayed on the float, in tribute to those who have given the Gift of Life. Look for his floragraph at the Parade where "everything is coming up roses".

Anna Ramsey - Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Donor
Anna Ramsey was answering a call for help from a young Dallas girl needing a marrow transplant when she went to a drive and signed up to be a possible donor. Although she was not a match for that young girl, a year and a half after registering, Anna became the "Miracle Match" for another person needing a transplant.

When she came up as a match, Anna was in school at Texas A&M University. Working with her professors, she was able to arrange to donate peripheral blood stem cells to her recipient a couple of days before Valentines day – a true gift from the heart!

The recipient of Anna's peripheral blood stem cells continues to do well.

Hannah Elizabeth Foster - Organ Donor
July 20, 1991 - October 27, 2007
Hannah was a beautiful, energetic, passionate and leggy girl of 16 when she was taken from us in a rollover automobile accident. I received a phone call the following day (12 hours after the accident) to come to Scott & White as it was presumed my daughter was there in ICU. She had no identification, and hospital officials had been actively trying to find family. When her mother and I arrived we immediately knew/identified our daughter, Hannah.

Within an hour it was painfully clear and obvious Hannah would not return to us. While the tragic reality of what was happening before our eyes was almost too much to carry, her mother and I realized in unison that we wanted to have Hannah live on in the only viable way possible – by participating in the Transplant Recovery Program. Officials at the hospital walked us through the process, and we stayed with Hannah throughout the night while the transplant team mobilized and fed medications to Hannah, ultimately preparing her for surgery. During this time, her sisters, grandparents and uncle were able to say their goodbyes. We walked with the team and Hannah to the operating room where we said our final good bye.

Hannah came into this world as a vibrant, inquisitive and highly intelligent child who made it her mission to investigate, take things apart and pretty much question everything she came into contact with. Along the way she was in dance, soccer, cheerleading and other youth activities where at all times she made everyone laugh while watching her bring a special "way" to each of those endeavors. As Hannah grew into a pre-teen and into her teenage years she became more independent and vigilant in wanting to experience life on her own terms. As parents we grew, stretched, were challenged and rewarded by our daughter growing into a young woman. We knew Hannah would ultimately grow into a wonderful woman with many potential life paths in which she would contribute to her self-worth, family pride and help her fellow man.

She possessed a beautiful smile, caring touch and was able to reach out in a caring way to her family and friends. In the end, I think what we all truly miss are Hannah's smile and the caring touch she possessed and regularly shared with everyone. While we grapple with her passing each day, we are aware of the gift she gave to others in her final act. We pray those individuals live a life worthy of her gift and embrace each day with love, hope and most of all, happiness in all they do.

In closing, let me say thank you to all who come together to celebrate what we all give to each other…the gifts of life, love and sharing. Hannah leaves her parents Kyle and Amy, and her two sisters Molly and Emma.

Chi Psi Beta Fraternity - Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Supporters
Chi Psi Beta is a premiere South Asian interest fraternity which has been serving the Aggie community since 1998.

Chi Psi Beta was awarded the Vice President's cup of Excellence for 2007, the highest honor for any Greek organization. Chi Psi Beta has also won MGC fraternity of the year numerous times along with the 2006 Chapter's choice award and 2006 Standards of Excellence award.

The two main philanthropies of Chi Psi Beta are expansion of education and awareness of bone marrow donors program. Chi Psi Beta has raised over $15,000 to fund the education of children in India and is in the process of building a school in the northern part of India.

Chi Psi Beta also registered hundreds of volunteers for the Scott & White Marrow Donor Program in the last two years and donated hundreds of dollars to the cause.

On November 22, Chi Psi Beta plans to hold its first annual "Marrow-thon 5k fun run/walk" in the Texas A&M campus through which they hope to raise money and register additional donors for the bone marrow donor program.

Debra Zavodny - Blood Donor
Debra Zavodny is being honored as a multi-gallon blood donor. She gives blood every time the blood mobile comes to the Scott & White Clinic in College Station and has for over six years.

When asked why blood donation was important to her, she said, "If I needed blood or someone in my family did, I would hope it would be there for us. I have worked in Labor and Delivery as well as in the nursery and have seen the need for blood first-hand."

Allen Orr - Organ Donor
Allen Orr, the brother-in-law of Mike Stephenson, Associate Professor in the Department of Communications at Texas A&M University, became a multi-organ donor ten years ago after a brief illness. Although from Texas, he had been traveling in California at the time of his illness and therefore, the recipients of his many wonderful gifts are from the west coast.

Members of Allen's family met with the recipients of Allen's kidney in August, 2004, and today they continue a wonderful relationship together. Allen being an organ donor, however, was the inspiration for Mike to work with Southwest Transplant Alliance on an organ donation promotion research project that helped determine the success of various educational programs to reach college students about the need for organ and tissue donors.

We are honored to recognize Allen not only for his donations of life but his inspiration that has and will continue to help the field of donation for many years.

Michael T. Stephenson - Donation Advocate
Dr. Michael T. Stephenson, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Texas A&M University, lost his brother-in-law Allen Orr ten years ago after a very sudden illness. Allen's family agreed to donate Allen's organs giving many individuals a gift of life.

Moved by the wonderful gift Allen had given, Dr. Stephenson became a donation advocate.

In 2004, he served as co-investigator on a $1.5-million dollar grant from the Division of Transplantation to conduct on organ donation promotion. The research included a media campaign and a personal education campaign for students at six universities across the United States, including Texas A&M University, in order to determine which strategy was most effective in getting college students to sign an organ donor card and talk to their family about their choice. The media campaign was kicked off by a meeting of a heart recipient and the donor's family.

The Lone Star Circle of Life is honored to have the opportunity to thank Dr. Stephenson for his contribution to the field of organ donation.

Don Hamblin - Blood Donor
Don Hamblin is a loyal blood donor. He believes in donating blood and does so on a regular basis - every time he is eligible.

Although he does not have a personal reason to be a donor, Don strongly believes donation is the best way to help everyone. He says "If you care about people, you should be a donor. It is so easy to help."

The Scott & White Blood Center is honored to recognize Don for his many past blood contributions and his continued support for blood donation.

Allen McBride - Marrow Donor
Allen is being honored for his role in giving a second chance at life to a young 16-year-old with leukemia through donating his bone marrow this past summer.

Allen registered with the Scott & White Marrow Donor Program at a drive held in College Station at the Aggie Relay for Life in 2007. It was almost a year to the date that he was identified as a possible match for this young man.

Throughout the entire process, Allen was always willing to do whatever was necessary to make this transplant a success. Being a staff member at Camp For All for several summers, Allen had worked with many campers that had been blood users or needed transplants. Through his marrow donation, Allen gave a very special gift to someone just like his campers.

Nicholas Sambilay - Transplant Recipient
Nicholas was born a healthy 8 lbs 10 oz in November 2006. When he was eight weeks old, however, his eyes turned yellow so we took him to the doctor where they ran some blood tests. Later that day, the pediatrician sent him to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston for more tests. Nicholas was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia, which is a rare liver condition where the bile ducts are not present. This causes bile to back up in the liver and damage the liver.

He did have a procedure called a Kasai done which is where the small intestine is attached to the liver to drain the bile. This is the only way to treat Biliary Atresia other than a transplant. This surgery did not work and Nicholas was very sick.

He was transferred to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and listed for a transplant just a few weeks after the Kasai. He waited only a month before he received his very special gift.

After one month of recovery in the hospital, Nicholas came home and has been doing wonderful. Other than food allergies Nicholas is a "normal" toddler and is very happy. He loves the pool and playing with his big sister. There are so many babies and young children that get a second chance at life thanks to organ donation.

Marrow Donor Program Volunteers
Kimberly Dudley and Tomeka Robinson were looking for an avenue to help in the community last August and met with Luke Potts, the Marrow Donor Program representative in College Station for more information about the program. After deciding to register as a volunteer, they began helping with the recruitment of new donors at Texas A&M University. Over the past year, Kim and Tomeka have assisted with getting drive leads, setting up drives and staffing drives at the University. They have helped put hundreds of students on the National Marrow Donor Program Registry and have educated hundreds more. The Scott & White Marrow Donor Program sincerely appreciates all they have done to help those in need of a transplant and honor them for their commitment.

Pi Beta Phi Sorority - Pi Beta Phi is being honored at this year's bike tour due to their efforts this past year to add donors to the National Marrow Donor Program registry. A two-day drive was held last year that resulted in several hundred students joining the registry and another two-day drive was held this year. The Scott & White Marrow Donor Program is pleased to have the opportunity to thank them for their contribution to donation.

Taylor Meschke - Tissue Donor
May 6, 1995 - September 17, 2006

Taylor lived life to the fullest. She was a beautiful child who made friends easily. Her ponytail tamed her curls but never her spirit. Her passions in life included swimming, playing softball and all things outdoors.

Taylor's family did not have to make the decision to donate when she was killed in a Sunday morning automobile accident on the way to church. She had expressed to them several times that if something ever happened to her, she wanted to be able to help others by becoming an organ donor. She was a little girl with a true gift for caring.

Taylor being honored in the Circle of Life Tour is so meaningful for her family. Riding her bicycle was one of Taylor's favorite things to do. Each day, she would come home from school, drop off her books and take off on her most beloved possessions, her bicycle. Everyone in the neighborhood knew her and talked about how she always took time to stop and visit. Taylor is most likely riding alongside the other cyclist on this journey, waving at those she passes and wishing that everyone would embrace the idea of organ and tissue donation the way she did.

Her family finds peace in the knowledge that somewhere out there, others have stronger hearts to love and clearer eyes that might see the worked the way that Taylor did…with hope and happiness.

Meryl Bond – Blood Recipient
In April of 2009, only weeks before her 24th birthday, Meryl Bond began feeling an unusual sense of fatigue and exhaustion. Like most, Meryl decided to schedule a routine doctor’s appointment to find out what was wrong. After several tests, doctors confirmed Meryl had a blood disease known as Myeloid Leukemia, which would require her to receive multiple blood transfusions.

After receiving blood for the first time, I felt the most normal I had felt in months,” Meryl says.

In fact, Meryl was able to finish her master’s program at the University of North Texas and take on normal every day tasks on her own, such as showering and brushing her teeth.

“Unfortunately, it wasn't until my illness that I realized just how important the life-giving opportunity to donate blood was. I donated a few times before but tried to avoid blood drives just because I assured myself there were plenty of people who probably donated,” she says.

After receiving more than 19 units of blood and watching hundreds of other patients like her, she realized just how important blood donations were. To help replenish the supply she used during her procedures, she organized a blood drive with The Blood Center of Brazos Valley, an affiliate of Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, at College Station Medical Center in her hometown. The drive proved to be a successful one with more than 116 units collected in two days.

“I honestly owe my life to the blood transfusions I've received since April and I intend on continuing to encourage others to donate for people just like me.”

Marsha Jenkins - Donation Advocate
Marsha Jenkins is a woman of character, leadership and love for her fellow neighbor.

Once she found out that her family friend, Doug, was in need of a marrow transplant, she swept into action.

She started raising awareness for marrow donation and the need for more people to become marrow donors. She has helped numerous people learn about the "Be The Match Registry".

This year, she and the Texas A&M Maggies will be holding a marrow drive at the "Giving to Light Other's Way (GLOW) benefit concert as well as the 5K GLOW run on the Texas A&M campus.

She is a dedicated advocate of marrow donation and has rallied many individuals in the Aggie community to follow in the tradition of the 12th man and always be on call to help their fellow neighbor.

Local Sponsors

Back to Top