Kate’s Story: Our sustaining donor program, Kate’s Club, is named for very special person. Kate Gallagher, who was the niece of Sailing Heals founders’ Michele Gallagher Glesinger and Trisha Gallagher Boisvert, was known for her joyous spirit, compassionate heart, and special way with young children. Kate, who was diagnosed with Budd-Chiari syndrome in her teens which is a clotting disease of the liver, studied early childhood development at Pikes Peak Community College and became engaged to be married.
Tragically, Kate suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on March 13, 2012 and passed away before she could receive a new liver. She was 26-years-old. As a registered organ, eye and tissue donor, she saved three lives that day: one of her kidneys went to a grandfather of five, the other went to a grandmother, and her heart went to a 12-year-old girl who had suffered a heart attack on the basketball court.
In memory of Kate, her parents, Gail and Mark Gallagher, have not only become active in Donor Life activities, but also were the first sustaining donors for Sailing Heals and help hands-on as occasional volunteers at our sails. They are pleased to know Kate’s memory has started a program that helps other VIPs going through a difficult health phase, with a beautiful escape at sea.
Please click the blue button at the top of the page to become a member of Kate’s Club for as little as $10/month.
