“The Gift of Life: An Organ Trail Story” documentary movie screening at Marian University

“Gift of Life: An Organ Trail Story,” is a new documentary about The Organ Trail, a not-for-profit initiative raising awareness about kidney health and the need for living kidney donors. Marian University is excited to share an early premiere of the 28-minute documentary movie at Marian University during our Academic Symposium. Join us for “The Gift of Life: An Organ Trail Story” Documentary Movie Screening. The event will take place at Marian University, located at 45 South National Avenue, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54935, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Stayer Center Dining Room.  

The documentary, created by former Texas Tech University students and headed by Michael Ortiz, chronicles the extraordinary journey of Mark and Lynn Scotch, a husband-and-wife from Wisconsin, whose happenstance meeting in Louisiana turned into a cross-country mission to save lives. It all began in 2020 when Mark met Hugh Smith, a retired jockey in desperate need of a kidney. Mark made the life-changing decision to donate his kidney through the National Kidney Registry Voucher Program, sparking a movement to raise awareness about living kidney donations. 

In early 2023, Lynn followed in Mark’s footsteps, donating her kidney through the voucher program. Lynn’s kidney went to a recipient in Illinois, and her voucher was given to 2-year-old Cooper from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Born with end-stage renal failure, Cooper had been on dialysis since he was only eight months old. Thanks to Lynn’s donation, Cooper received the life-saving transplant he desperately needed. 

Why It Matters: 

• Nearly 100,000 Americans are on the kidney transplant waiting list, with 3,000 new patients added monthly. 
• Every day, 13 people in the U.S. die waiting for a kidney transplant. 
• If 10-15 people out of every 10,000 became living donors, the waiting list could be eradicated. 

Since 2020, Mark and Lynn have completed five cross-country rides, logging more than 8,000 miles, to raise awareness about the critical need for living kidney donors. The next TOT ride is scheduled for April 4th, starting in Los Angeles, CA, and ending in Denver, Colorado. 

The 2023 ride, in this documentary, kicked off in Lubbock, TX where local Rotary,  Toastmasters, and community members welcomed Mark, Lynn and Michael into their homes.  

Event Details:

• What: 2025 Academic Symposium – “The Gift of Life: An Organ Trail Story” Documentary Movie Screening at Marian University 
• When: Wednesday, March 26, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  
• Where: Stayer Center Dining Room at Marian University, 45 South National Avenue, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54935 
• Media Contact: Paul Osterholm at (920) 979-1734 or James Gray (414) 331-9737 
• Movie Trailer:http://tiny.cc/TheGiftOfLifeAnOrganTrail

For more information on The Organ Trail, visit: https://www.markscotch.com/

About The Organ Trail: The Organ Trail is a not-for-profit initiative founded by Mark and Lynn Scotch to raise awareness about the critical need for living kidney donors. Through ultra-endurance cycling events, they have met with transplant professionals, inspired countless donations, and advocated for better understanding of kidney health across the country. 

Marian University was founded in 1936 by the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, a group of pioneering sisters, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The university has a rich tradition of dedication to the education of the whole person and offers a variety of undergraduate, masters and adult learning degrees at its main campus and online.