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BIRD RAISES FUNDS WITH HIS SON AT 5K LIVER WALK

Originally printed in the Echoes-Sentinel  06/22/2005

POSTED 6/23/05

LONG HILL TWP. - David Bird of Long Hill Road, Millington, who received a life saving liver transplant just before Christmas, cut the ribbon to start and to walk in the 5K Liver Walk fund-raising event on June 5, at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

Bird, with help from his son, Alex, raised the most funds for the American Liver Association's three New York area events.

''About 70 generous people donated over $5,000 to my drive to help the American Liver Foundation find a cure for this disease which strikes one out of 10 Americans,'' Bird said.

''We smashed my ambitious target of raising $3,000 and I'm proud to say that about one-third of the money I raised came from folks with ties to the Long Hill community that has already given so much support to us since I became ill.''

Overall, the three New York area events raised about $70,000 for research into fighting liver disease.

''It was hot walking on Sunday morning, but inspiring to be looking out over the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, which are great symbols of hope and new starts,'' said Bird, adding his mother and her family emigrated to the United States from Ireland, through Ellis Island, when she was just 3 years-old.

Bird, who lives with wife Nancy, and children Alexander, 7, and Natasha, 4, suffered from an unknown form of hepatitis last July. He received a life-saving liver transplant at New York University Medical Center in New York on Dec. 19, 2004.

Bird, who is walking extensively throughout the community to regain his strength, expects to be given medical clearance to return to his job as senior energy correspondent at Dow Jones Newswires in Jersey City later this summer.

''Like all transplant recipients, I'll be on some daily medications for the rest of my life. But that's a small price to pay. I'm feeling great,'' said Bird.

''When I got my transplant, I told my doctors that I was going to work my hardest to reshape the world for people with liver disease just the way the disease had reshaped my liver. Liver Walk is just the beginning of my dedication to this cause and to promoting the need for organ donation. I'm well aware how lucky I was to get my transplant,'' said Bird.

''Right now, there are some 18,000 people awaiting liver transplants across the country and nearly 90,000 are on the waiting list for all organ transplants. Many will die while awaiting the needed organ. The best way to help now is to register as an organ donor and hopefully, with continued research into the disease, even more lives can be saved,'' said Bird.

Information on how to become an organ donor can be found on the World Wide Web at www.active.com/donate/alf/riverwalk/DavidBird.
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DAVID TO WALK FOR THE CAUSE

POSTED 5/6/2005

 

David will walk in two upcoming walk-a-thons in June sponsored by the

Greater New York Chapter of the American Liver Foundation.  All proceeds will

be used to provide research, education and advocacy on behalf of those

affected by liver disease.   To learn more about the walk-a-thons and

how you can help please click the following link:

  http://www.active.com/donations/fundraise_public.cfm?key=DavidBird

 

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ECHOES-SENTINEL TO PUBLISH STORY ABOUT DAVID

POSTED 1/12/2004

 

The Echoes-Sentinel Morris County's local weekly newspaper will print a follow-up story about David's Christmas time liver miracle with plenty of photos. Story to appear in Thursday Jan. 13 issue.

 

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NEWARK STAR LEDGER NEWSPAPER TO PUBLISH STORY ABOUT DAVID

POSTED 12/29/04

 

Newark, New Jersey based newspaper, The Star Ledger, has printed an article about David on December 30, 2004 discussing his need for and success of a liver transplant.

 

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PATRIOT MEDIA CABLE TELEVISION TO AIR PROGRAM ABOUT DAVID

POSTED 12/20/2004

 

Patriot Media cable television station Channel 8 based in Somerset, NJ, will be airing a half-hour program, Community Corner, all about David Bird starting Monday, Dec. 20.

The anchor, Rick Adams, interviews David's sister, Kathy Bird, on the program, which can be seen by Patriot Media customers in central New Jersey.

It will be broadcast on Patriot's Channel 8 on Monday, Dec. 20 at 9 p.m. and on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 7 a.m., 9a.m., 1p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Community Corner will also be broadcast on CNN Headline News on Monday, Dec. 20 beginning at 4:54p.m. and every half-hour throughout the night.

The show provides information about David, his family, his illness, the www.SaveDavid.org website and general information about the need for organ donors and how to become and organ donor.  It also provides information about the New Jersey Sharing Network and the website for viewers to obtain additional information.

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