When Barry Radu's wife needed a kidney transplant several years ago, she was one of roughly 750 patients in Alberta waiting for an organ transplant. She did manage to receive one and that's when Radu, a motorcyclist for 45 years, decided to make organ donation awareness his mission. "There is a real need for organ donors," Radu said. "I know how my wife's life changed by getting a kidney so I know how it can change other people's lives that have kidney failure or other organs too." Last week marked his fifth year of running "Friday da Thirteenth" an event to gather as many motorcyclists as possible to Cochrane's Historic Downtown every Friday the 13th throughout the year, weather permitting. "The motorcycle community is one of the most charitable parts of the population that's out there," he said. "Our bikes are noisy, but everybody's got a big heart underneath." “You can get a group of motorcyclists together way easier than you can anybody else for an event like this." Chris McVean was one of the cyclists to show his support last Friday. "I've always supported Barry and his cause to raise awareness for transplant patients. It's a great idea to have this event," McVean said. "In my opinion, having transplants available whether it's by accident or from an illness or disease is a great thing. My wife and I are organ donors, we signed our organ donor cards a few years ago and that was really important to my wife; she did it a number of years ago." "Motorcycle riders are very conscientious people. If you were to pick a community or organization, motorcycle riders are a really tight-knit group and they don't hesitate to donate their time and money to worthwhile causes and this is just another one that we follow and support." While Radu wasn't collecting funds for donation at the event, he did give out rubber wristbands to all those who attended. Radu said anyone interested in donating money should consider sponsoring a participant of the three day Kidney March beginning Sept. 7 running from Kananaskis to Calgary. For more information, visit www.kidneymarch.ca.
