Scotch Plains Local Celebrates Life With 5K Race

New Providence, NJ -- Scotch Plains native Elizabeth Stamler is very familiar with organ and tissue donation as four of her family members have been affected in some way.

“I’ve always known about organ donation,” Stamler told Patch. “My dad had a heart transplant in 1988. For a lot of people the topic is scary or morbid but my whole life I was familiar with the concept.”

Her family has Cardiomyopathy, a genetic disease in Stamler’s case. Over time the heart muscle weakens and eventually a pace maker is needed and then a transplant.

Her father, John H. Stamler was a recipient of a heart donation. He passed away later in 1990 and was the former Union County Prosecutor and also has a county police academy named in his honor.

Along with her father, Stamler’s brother Richard and her aunt also received heart transplants.
Her other brother Stephen died in 2009 suddenly but was a tissue donor that helped to enhance the lives of more than 30 people.

Stamler is very unique as she is both a recipient family member and a donor family member. She knows firsthand the benefits from each side of the donation process and how it can save lives.

Giving back, Stamler is a volunteer of NJ Sharing Network in New Providence and captain of Donation Nation, one of the teams participating in this year’s 5K Celebration of Life in New Providence.

The 5K walk/run will be held on Sunday, June 5  at NJ Sharing Network headquarters, 691 Central Avenue in New Providence and is a USATF Certified Race.

The name of the race speaks for its mission - to celebrate life.

Each year the race raises money to support donor families and advance research and education about organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

The NJ Sharing Network has raised more than $700,000 and hopes to raise $1.25 million this year.

“Today, there are 122,000 people waiting for a transplant and 22 die each day, but one donor can save eight people and one tissue donor can enhance the lives of 50 people,” according to NJ Sharing Network. “In New Jersey, there are 5,000 people on the waiting list and one person dies every three days waiting for an organ transplant.”

The 5K Celebrate Life began with only one race and over the years has grown to a series of races. The first one was held on April 24 in Bergen County, the second is this Sunday, June 5 in New Providence and the final 5K Walk/Run will be held Sunday, August 21 at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.

Online Registration for the June 5 New Providence 5K Walk & USATF Certified Race will close at noon on Friday, June 3.
After online registration closes, registration fees will increase for both adults and children by $5.

You can still sign up in person for the Race during early bib and shirt pick up on Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at NJ Sharing Network Headquarters or on event day, June 5, starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Day of Registration Tent.

To sign up or learn more about the NJ Sharing Network visit https://www.njsharingnetwork.o...

To learn more about Stamler and to donate to her team visit http://5k.njsharingnetwork.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1150497&lis=1&kntae1150497=5D63D035B38441C3B1AA21B2A4A3E382&supId=361000804

Online contributions can still be made through Oct. 1.

(Photos, provided: 

Photo 1 - Elizabeth Stamler with her three brothers. 

Photo 2 -  Elizabeth Stamler at a previous NJ Sharing Network 5K.)