2nd Chance Trail Ride – Donate Life – Become an Organ & Tissue Donor Today!

About 2nd Chance Trail Ride Society

The 2nd Chance Trail Ride Society is a non-profit organization founded in 2012 after five like-minded individuals received the gift of a double lung transplant.
Their mission is to encourage organ and tissue donations, give thanks to those who have donated and support individuals going the transplant journey.

In Memory of Faye Irvine

With profound admiration, we celebrate the life of Fae Irvine, a pillar of our Society, who left us on August 28th, 2024. Her unwavering support for her husband Morris's double lung transplant journey ignited our mission. Bringing awareness one ride at a time and raising funds to help others going through their transplant journey. Fae's selfless dedication knew no bounds, elevating every event to unparalleled success. She will be missed!

Want to register to be a donor and make a difference?

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My husband Ken and I, would like to give you a great big thank you for your financial support with Ken being off work and myself to support him. Your contribution is extremely appreciated. Your support helps greatly with his healing process. Transplants really are a second chance and organizations such as yours are a huge help to transplant recipients. Thank you!

Ken & Kim Verheal

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Morris Irvine

Double lung transplant Recipient – March 13, 2011

Morris was diagnosed with COPD and was on oxygen for three years before deciding to accept an organ transplant. He was inspired to accept transplantation from other recipients that were in similar situations. Morris has a loving wife, six children (plus spouses), 23 grandchildren (plus spouses) and nine great grand children.

Morris received a double-lung transplant in March 2011 after only 11 months of being on the waiting list. Morris and his family are forever grateful to the donor that gave Morris a 2^nd Chance at life. He went from not being able to walk across the house and planning his funeral, to fishing and driving his team of horses again. Because of this, Morris and his wife decided they needed to give back. They wanted the whole world to know that organ donation works. Morris, his family and a few other double lung transplant recipients were looking for ways to say thank you and bring awareness to the process.

These lung transplant recipients have one thing in common and it’s their rural roots. What better way to bring awareness then by hosting a trail ride? Doing the one thing that Morris loved and was incapable of doing when on oxygen but was “back in the saddle” after the transplant, he wanted to show the world. He wanted to show proof that organ and tissue donation works and that he thankful for donor families and the transplant staff at the University of Alberta Hospital.

In May 2012 they hosted their first trail ride and raised over $20,000. They donated (and participated) in the Canadian Transplant Games. An event that brings world wide attention to organ and tissue donation. Morris won first place in the 5km walk and couldn’t have been prouder of his accomplishment.

Over the years this event has grown to attendance of over 300 participants on the trail, over 500 people for supper, and has raised, on average, $70,000 annually.

The importance to bring awareness and assist other transplant recipients is of the utmost importance on Morris’s mind. He (along with his posse) have established a signage campaign, putting signs in local hockey rinks, curling rinks, rodeo arenas and local area highways. He’s participated in many parades throughout Alberta including the Ponoka Stampede, St. Albert Rainmaker, and Lloydminster, Bonnyville, and Elk Point Christmas parades. The latest being the Grey Cup parade in Edmonton.

Morris has spoken at his grandchildren’s elementary schools and presented at the Alberta Registries Conference in Edmonton in 2017. He has played an active role during National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week (NOTDAW) through transplant trots and “coffee talk” at registry offices around Alberta. In the fall of 2017 he was introduced in the Alberta Legislature by the Honorable Sarah Hoffman; Deputy Premier and Minister of Health for his dedication and commitment to bringing awareness to organ and tissue donation.

The 2^nd Chance Trail Ride Society annually supports GoodHearts in subsidizing and maintaining living accommodations while recipients are recovering. Financially, 2^nd Chance Trail Ride assists recipients with food and gas cards. They work closely with the social workers involved in the transplant process. 2^nd Chance Trail Ride also donated $10,000 to the University Hospital Foundation to purchase 2 new treadmills for the Rehabilitation department.

Morris’s attitude of gratitude continues to consume his 2^nd Chance at life. He is especially grateful to the donor families and wants the message to be loud and clear that we should sign our intend and speak with our families about it……………………all this because he has the best wife in the world!!! (She’s the one that puts the pen to the paper and makes things happen 😊)