LiveOnNY Held Annual Donor Heroes 5K Run/Walk
The event brought together organ transplant recipients and donor families in Queens to raise awareness.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Philanthropy
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LiveOnNY hosted its third annual Donor Heroes 5K Run/Walk in Flushing Meadows Corona Park this September. The gathering served to honor donors and transplant recipients while raising awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Why it matters
The event highlights the growing community support for donation networks in New York City. It provides a platform for families and recipients to engage with the public and advocate for critical organ and tissue registration.
This third annual event recognized donor outcomes, including two lives saved through the kidney donation of Max Azzerello. One event grand marshal, Aeisha Reese, participated as a recipient of two intestine transplants.
The players
LiveOnNY
A federally designated organ procurement organization serving the New York City metropolitan area.
Aeisha Reese
A transplant recipient who serves as a grand marshal and advocate for organ donation.
Richard Azzerello
A grand marshal for the donor awareness event.
Max Azzerello
An organ donor whose 2024 kidney donation saved two lives.
Shirley Chan
The emcee for the annual awareness event.
The details
The 5K run and walk integrated donor families, volunteers, and transplant recipients into a public awareness campaign. The event featured official ceremonies, including appearances by grand marshals Richard Azzerello and Aeisha Reese, alongside emcee Shirley Chan and team mascots Mr. and Mrs. Met.
Timeline
The third annual Donor Heroes 5K Run/Walk occurred in September 2026.
Max Azzerello died and became a donor in 2024.
Aeisha Reese moved to New York City in 2014.
Market Landscape
The third annual Donor Heroes 5K Run/Walk follows the established precedent of organized community outreach for health services in New York City. This event underscores the ongoing trend of leveraging public fitness activities to drive registration for organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Businesses operating in the area should monitor how community awareness events impact local charitable engagement and volunteer recruitment. Engaging with major health advocacy entities can provide measurable corporate social responsibility metrics for local firms.
The takeaway
The success of awareness events relies on active participation from both donor families and transplant recipients to sustain public engagement. Operators should track how such philanthropic initiatives influence local support networks for health-related causes.
Further reading
For more on how local non-profits coordinate public outreach, explore the Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by QNS.
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