The Astellas Ride of a Lifetime Contest

The Astellas Ride of a Lifetime Contest: A Transplant Tradition
For the past seven years, Astellas has provided the highest level of sponsorship and support as the "benefactor" partner for the Donate Life Rose Parade float - only one example of Astellas’ more than 20-year commitment to transplantation and organ donation.

To honor those touched by transplantation, Astellas launched the Astellas Ride of a Lifetime essay contest in 2005. The inaugural contest asked organ transplant recipients to share their transplant experience by submitting a 500-word essay on how their life had been transformed by transplantation. Five winners were chosen and won the opportunity to experience in-person one of the most celebrated entertainment events in the world – the Tournament of Roses Parade®. The contest winners traveled to California where they became members of the float building team and rode aboard the Donate Life float themed "Life Transformed" in the Rose Parade on January 1, 2006.

To read the winning essays and see photos of the 2006 float riders enjoying their Ride of a Lifetime - click here.

The second annual Astellas Ride of a Lifetime contest offered transplant recipients the opportunity to honor and thank their living organ donors for the gift of life. Organ recipients nominated their living organ donor to be a part of the 2007 Rose Parade. The five winning organ donors traveled to California where they become members of the float building team and rode aboard the Donate Life float themed "Giving from the Heart" on New Year's Day 2007.

To read the winning essays and see photos of the 2007 float riders enjoying their Ride of a Lifetime - click here.

The third annual Astellas Ride of a Lifetime contest asked transplant recipients to share their inspirational transplantation stories for a chance to ride on the 2008 Rose Parade float. The five winning organ transplant recipients traveled to California to spend five days building the float, participating in special receptions and riding aboard the Donate Life float themed "Life Takes Flight" down the legendary Colorado Blvd. at the Rose Parade.

To read the winning essays and see photos of the 2008 float riders enjoying their Ride of a Lifetime – click here.

The fourth annual Astellas Ride of a Lifetime contest asked transplant recipients to share their inspirational transplantation stories for a chance to ride on the 2009 Rose Parade float. The five winning organ transplant recipients traveled to California to spend five days building the float, participating in special receptions and riding aboard the Donate Life float themed "Life Takes Flight" down the legendary Colorado Blvd. at the Rose Parade.

To read the winning essays and see photos of the 2009 float riders enjoying their Ride of a Lifetime – click here.

The Donate Life float is coordinated by OneLegacy, a non-profit transplant donor network serving 18 million people in Southern California.

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