Walking for Organ Donations

George Marcello joins Kristopher Knowles' awareness trek through GTA

Kristopher Knowles' first embrace from Toronto came at 10:30 a.m., with the 645 students of the Bloor Collegiate Institute who welcomed him in his march of hope. Kristopher, 13 years old and waiting for a life-saving liver transplant, looked like a tiny hero, overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of his fans.
The school's theatre hall was crammed with teenagers, first listening attentively, then cheering him, displaying their participation and sympathy.
Such spontaneous and sincere participation can only belong to the world of teenagers. There is no electoral calculation or image return to be reaped.
Kristopher was welcomed on stage by school principal Thomas Trotter who presented him with gifts: a cap, a jacket and a jersey with the school colours.
The fair-haired 13-year-old was accompanied by his great friend and director George Marcello.
George told the students how he met Kristopher, describing the latter's enthusiasm, his tragedy, and his determination to raise the awareness of all Canadians towards organ donation.
The meetings with schools in 200 cities and towns have a specific purpose: getting youngsters involved and reaching their families through them, in order for as many people as possible to become donors. This approach could overcome any diffidence or lack of interest towards a social issue that should concern everybody. Such tragedies might suddenly strike anyone.
Another speaker on stage was an architect, Mr. Starks, who told the audience how he is only alive because of a transplant, which gave him a portion of his son's liver.
The boys and girls of Bloor C.I. were enraptured and understood the importance of organ donation.
Just before the "star" that everybody was waiting for, Ontario Health minister George Smitherman, said a few words about the young paladin of hope. "This kid can change the history of Canada. We live unhealthily, feed unhealthily, and must deal with these issues." Smitherman also brought a greeting from Premier Dalton McGuinty.
Finally, George Marcello theatrically introduced Kristopher Knowles, who was waiting for his turn with some apprehension.
Marcello said, "He likes swimming, he likes running, he likes living... and he's a beautiful guy, still free. He's Kristopher Knowles!"
The 645 students greeted him with an ovation (not that they had been quiet before), and gave a symbolic hug to the little hero.
Kristopher, evidently embarrassed, only managed to utter a few sentences and launch his appeal in favour of donation. He repeated that he was waiting for a transplant, for a miracle.
After that, he went back to sink in his armchair, waiting for the ceremony to end and for the march to begin.
At last, principal Trotter invited all students to follow Kristopher and get organized for the next leg of his march, at Bloor and Dundas West, at Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School, where more kids would welcome Kristopher.
That's when the real hug between the students and Kris, a fellow teenager, a friend, came. At first they shook his hand very politely; after we asked them to surround Kris for a group photo, they hugged him and then Kristopher's smile shone bright. He had shed his tension, a kid among other kids, in a group of friends, as if they had known one another for years.
The march could begin.
Outside, amid snow turned to mud, George Marcello was busy co-ordinating the police to allow the long line of students to cross the street, and then lighting up the torch and handing it to Kristopher.
The little hero, Health minister George Smitherman, and other testimonials got moving, followed by a numerous group of students.
The parade also included several reporters and Kristopher's parents. His father shot the march with his camcorder, then drove their RV, covered with slogans in favour of organ donation, to the next stop.
Marcello, interviewed by several journalists, insisted, "Please don't let your organs go to waste. God knows they are needed. Please tell your family and friends to sign their organ donor cards, so that people in need can benefit. As it happened with me, 4,000 other Canadians waiting for a transplant can be saved."
"Step by Step" and "Kristopher's Wish", the twin slogans of this campaign, are generating the first results; meanwhile, people now know that there is a problem.

Publication Date: 2004-02-22
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3675