Organ Transplant Recipient Raises Over $75,000 To Pay It Forward

CUMMING, GA -- In 2010, Cumming resident Kirk Franz received a life-saving liver transplant after being diagnosed with a rare liver disease and bile duct cancer.

Due to the cancer in his liver, he was on the organ wait list for less than a week.

"I had no idea how many Georgians were receiving an organ transplant," Franz said in a release. "There are several each week. And most have to wait a lot longer than I did to receive their gift of life."

After learning the realities of organ and liver transplants, Franz helped create the Swing Easy Hit Hard Foundation. The Foundation is a registered 501 (c) (3) fundraising organization whose mission is to increase organ donation awareness and to provide support for patients and families affected by organ donation and transplantation.

The Swing Easy Hit Hard Foundation will hold its 9th annual Charity Golf Tournament & Dinner Banquet on April 25th at the Windermere Golf Club. Proceeds benefit the Georgia Transplant Foundation.

After Franz recovered from his transplant, he felt called to find a way to "give back" to others who would require an organ transplant. In 2012, with the help of family and friends, Kirk established the annual charity golf tournament and the Swing Easy Hit Hard Foundation.

"I love to golf and always enjoyed playing in charity golf tournaments," he said. "Now I had a great reason to organize a tournament of my own to support a worthy cause that is very close to my family and me."

This year’s event will be held during National Donate Life Month in April. In addition to golf, each player will receive a Chick-fil-A lunch, an Under Armour golf jacket, hat, non-alcoholic drinks and post-golf dinner banquet. This year’s dinner banquet will feature live music, a silent auction, wine pull, raffle drawings and awards.

Quick facts about organ donation:

• 121,614 people are waiting for an organ
• 18 people will die each day waiting for an organ
• The average annual cost for post-transplant medications is $26,000
• 1 organ donor can save up to 8 lives
• The Georgia Transplant Foundation provides $1.3 million in financial assistance to Georgia’s transplant patients.
• The Georgia Transplant Foundation provides financial assistance, mentoring, healthcare education and academic scholarships to transplant patients.

To learn more about being an organ donor, visit www.DonateLifeGeorgia.org

Swing Easy Hit Hard Charity Golf Tournament

When: Thursday, April 25

Where: Windermere Golf Club 5000 Davis Love Dr. Cumming, GA

Time: Check-in at noon, shotgun start at 1 p.m.

Fee: $150/player, $550/foursome

Registration:www.SwingEasyHitHard.org

Contact: Kirk Franz 404-867-4981 SwingEasyHitHard@att.net

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