Gift of Life Marrow Registry marked a major milestone on Sunday, January 26, 2025, as participants and supporters gathered for the 15th annual Steps for Life 5k Run & Walk of South Florida. More than 1,000 attendees enjoyed the beautiful morning at Florida Atlantic University Stadium, with plenty of family activities, refreshments and the high point of the morning – the emotional moment when two survivors of life-threatening diseases met the Gift of Life donors whose blood stem cell donation saved their lives.
Since 2010, the Steps for Life's incredible volunteers, runners, and other advocates have raised more than $3.5 million to help patients diagnosed with blood cancer, sickle cell, and inherited immune disorders find the donors who can save their lives with a stem cell transplant or marrow transplant.
Anticipation was high as the moment approached when blood cancer survivor Roxanne Lockhart (l) would meet her hero – Gift of Life stem cell donor Kristian Von Rickenbach (r).
Two of the three Gift of Life volunteers who founded the Steps for Life 5k in 2010, Dana Aberman and Donna Krasner, introduced the pair, who are now so closely linked.
Transplant recipient Roxanne, 62, a resident of Michigan, took the stage first as Dana shared her story. She is the mother of three adult children, and a retired Health Care Compliance Officer, who was first diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in July 2023 after seeking treatment for what she thought was a sinus infection. The emergency nurse recognized the anomalies in her blood work and immediately admitted her to the hospital.
Due to her strong faith, Roxanne was confident that a matching stem cell donor would be found for her, and she was correct: her donor, Kristian, was already enrolled in Gift of Life’s registry.
Kristian, 39, a physician and mother from Montclair, N.J., joined the registry in 2012 during a drive organized by Hillel at the University of South Florida in Tampa. She had just welcomed her second child when she learned she was a match.
“As soon as I found out I had matched and realized I could save someone’s life I was super excited to start, whatever it would take,” said Kristian. “I did wonder how I could help someone else when I had a new baby, but I realized this is a gift to be able to do this for someone, and of course I could figure it out. We are all worth fighting for.”
Their meeting was incredibly joyful – with the two women hugging and laughing through emotional tears.
“I feel giddy!” said Roxanne. “As a new mom, Kristian could have backed out but she didn’t, and her action was life changing! I know this is a friendship meant to be.”
The honor of introducing the second donor and recipient pair was given to leukemia survivor Julio Rivera and his stem cell donor Ryan Corning, who met at the 2019 Steps for Life 5k and returned this year for the anniversary.
They welcomed transplant recipient Caitlyn Cook (l), 33, of Maple Grove, Minn., to the stage and shared her story. Caitlyn was diagnosed with an extremely rare blood disease, Aplastic Anemia with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) in 2023 after what she thought was a bout of food poisoning. Only 500 people a year in the United States receive this diagnosis, and it took a number of weeks in and out of the hospital for Caitlyn to learn what was causing her so much pain. Doctors then told her she would need a stem cell transplant to survive.
When an emergency surgery delayed her scheduled transplant, doctors discovered she had an even better match, a donor from Gift of Life’s registry, and she received the stem cells in fall 2024.
The “even better match” who saved Caitlyn’s life was Brianna Marr (r), a 23-year-old firefighter/paramedic from Green Cove Springs, Fla., who is also a former Gift of Life Campus Ambassador.
Brianna had known about Gift of Life since she was 16 and had waited several years to be old enough to join the registry. She became a Campus Ambassador (CAP) for Gift of Life after learning about the organization’s college internship program at a HOSA Future Health Professionals meeting at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Brianna not only joined the registry herself, but as a CAP she also recruited more than 120 new donors.
“When I found out I was a match I was pretty shocked – it was a dream come true to be able to help,” said Brianna. “As a first responder I do many things to assist patients in emergencies, but with this donation I chose to physically give part of myself to her. Knowing we share the same blood and stem cells makes the experience so personal, and I will value it the rest of my life.”
“Words don’t even express the gratitude I have for Brianna,” Caitlyn added. “Thank you for saving my life, and for donating to a complete stranger. The world needs more people like you.”
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Steps for Life was by founded volunteers Dana Aberman, Donna Krasner (left) and Wendy Schulman (not pictured.) They have dedicated countless hours and commitment for 15 years to making this fundraiser an incredible success. The tangible result of this work to date is that 170 lifesaving transplants have been completed for patients in need.
Conrad (center) served as the proud flag bearer for the National Anthem, played with enthusiasm by the Park Vista High School Marching Band.
WPTV Channel 5 investigative reporter and Emmy award-winning journalist Dave Bohman (r) served as the master of ceremonies for the second year in a row.
To mark the 15th anniversary of this signature fundraising event, 11 donors and recipients who were first introduced to each other at past Steps for Life events attended to share in the celebration, with each of them giving a short statement about the positive – often miraculous – impact on their lives.
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To launch the race portion of the event, a group of excited children lined up to run the Superhero Sprint. Each of Gift of Life’s mini-heroes received a bright orange cape to wear while running the 50-yard dash. The Kids Zone featured face painting, rock climbing, petting zoo, balloon art, train rides, and much more!
Participants from across South Florida ran, walked, pushed strollers, trotted with their dogs, and cheered people on, with walkers following the 5k runners out of the starting line to follow the course around Florida Atlantic University’s gorgeous campus on a beautiful sunny morning.
Thanks to Accuchip for timing our 5k. Click here to see all race results.
Gift of Life thanks our sponsors for their generous support of Steps for Life. We also thank the Florida Atlantic University for sharing mascot and fan-favorite Owlsley with us, and the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Department for supplying the much-loved Pink Pumper. Your involvement with our mission helps to save lives.
Did we get a photo of you? Click here to view the event photo gallery!
We look forward to seeing you at the
Steps for Life 5k Run & Walk in 2027!