Donor Alliance Hosts Illinois Donor Mother to Represent the Miracle of Organ Donation in 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade(R)

Donor Mother to Inspire Parade Viewers Worldwide to Donate Life Aboard the Annual Donate Life Rose Parade Float

Through his death in September 2010, United States Air Force Academy Cadet First Class Marc Henning gave the ultimate gift -- the gift of life -- to many through the donation of his lungs, kidneys, pancreas, liver, skin and bone. To honor Marc's gift, his mom, Linda Henning, will join 27 other float riders on the ninth annual Donate Life Rose Parade float, One More Day. These 28 riders will represent deceased organ, eye and tissue donors, living donors and transplant recipients in the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade. Marc will also be honored visually as one of 72 floragraph (floral portrait) honorees adorning the One More Day float entry. The float embodies the nation's most visible campaign to inspire people to save and heal lives as registered organ, eye and tissue donors.

Watching and cheering Linda on from the Rose Parade Grandstands will be her husband Van alongside Robert Lee Logan, the recipient of Marc's left kidney and veteran of the U.S. Navy. Linda Henning's participation in the parade and the attendance of the Henning and Logan families is sponsored by Donor Alliance, the federally-designated, non-profit organ procurement organization serving Colorado and most of Wyoming. The families met for the first time in Colorado during a ceremony hosted on October 6, 2011 where Donor Alliance was recognized for its participation in the Military Organ Sharing Program. United States Air Force Academy Cadet First Class Marc Henning was one of the kidney donors and Linda and Van attended the award ceremony in Denver alongside recipient Robert Lee Logan.