About us

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.

These gentlemen created this organization to increase awareness about Organ and Tissue Donation as well as build a strong community to support other transplant recipients and their families who are going through the process.
We continue to succeed with our mission to encourage organ and tissue donations; we give thanks to donation heroes and we support individuals who are going through the transplant journey. Together, we can advocate, educate and make a difference!

Living Proof

Our Founders

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.

Tom Matthews

Double Lung Transplant Recipient, July 11, 2009

Tom was born in Woodstock New Brunswick. After university he joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1972, and following a rewarding career, Tom retired in 2007.

Board of Directors

© 2024 2nd Chance Trail Ride. All rights reserved

Made with ❤ by TM

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 😊)