Bill Conner Cycles Cross Country In Memory of His Late Daughter, an Organ Donor
Conner recently had the opportunity to meet the young man who received his daughter’s heart and listen to her heartbeat
After traveling more than 2,000 miles on his bike, Bill Conner will be arriving on Monday, July 10, 2017 at Broward Health Medical Center (BHMC), ending the Wisconsin man’s cross country journey, which he embarked upon to create awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation in memory of his late daughter, Abigail “Abbey” Mae Conner.
Doctors, nurses and other staff members at BHMC along with the local South Florida Donor Programs and other members of the donation community will be giving Conner a hero’s welcome as he pedals into the final stop of his multi-state journey called, “Abbey’s Ride for Life,” which began on May 22nd.
Conner recently had the opportunity to meet the young man who received his daughter’s heart. Loumonth Jack, Jr., a 21-year-old Louisiana resident who was in heart failure due to a viral infection. On Father’s Day, Conner arrived in Ventress, LA. where Jack awaited. The two embraced and Jack handed Conner a stethoscope so that Conner could listen to his daughter’s beating heart.
Loumonth received special permission from his transplant surgeon to travel to BHMC and will participate in the special event to create awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation in memory of his heart donor, Abigail “Abbey” Mae Conner.
WHAT: A Finish Line Celebration for Abbey’s Ride For Life
WHEN: July 10, 2017 at 10:30 AM
WHERE: Broward Health Medical Center
1600 South Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Finish line will be located on corner of
SE1st Avenue & SE 14th Street
Conner embarked on the journey to raise awareness about the lives that could be saved if more people followed his daughter’s legacy of organ donation. Her organ donations saved 4 lives, restored the beauty of sight for 2 people and enhance the quality of life for 31 people through her gifts of donation. On his trip, Mr. Connor made stops along the way to share his story and urge people to register online to become organ, eye and tissue donors and has also set up a Facebook page so people could follow his journey and a GoFundMe page to raise money for Donate Life America which has already raised more than $13,000.
About Broward Health
Broward Health, providing service for more than 75 years, is a nationally recognized hospital system in South Florida that offers world-class healthcare to all. The Broward Health system includes the statutory teaching hospital Broward Health Medical Center, Broward Health North, Broward Health Imperial Point, Broward Health Coral Springs, Salah Foundation Children's Hospital at Broward Health, Broward Health Weston, Broward Health Community Health Services, Broward Health Physician Group, Broward Health Urgent Care, Broward Health International, and Broward Health Foundation. For more information, visit Dad bikes 1,400 miles to hear deceased daughter’s heartbeat on Father’s Day
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