Sixth Annual Strut 2 Save Lives Set for Sept. 11 in Noblesville

Jill Nicolich was given a second chance at life in 1997 when she received a kidney donation from an organ donor in Philadelphia.

“I was young and scared, just filled with so many emotions,” said Nicolich, a Noblesville resident and retired administrator for F.C. Tucker. “Everything with my transplant went very well. The kidney was practically a perfect match for me. I know how grateful and lucky I am to have had my new kidney for 25 years now. It is very overwhelming to think about.”

Nicolich and her smart, sassy and mischievous 5-year-old Golden retriever, Makena, will be among more than 100 fellow dog owners and walking enthusiasts at the 6th annual Strut 2 Save Lives on Sept. 11.

“I’ll be walking to honor my donor hero and his or her family,” Jill said. “I think about them and thank them every day because of the incredible gift of life they gave to me.”

The one-mile Strut 2 Save Lives returns to Noblesville’s Dr. James A. Dillon Park, located at 6001 Edenshall Lane on 146th Street, about a quarter mile east of Hazel Dell Road in Hamilton County. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and costs $25 for adults, $12 for children ages 12 and younger and $65 for families up to five participants.

A live DJ will provide music until 1 p.m. A professional photographer will be available at no charge following the walk to capture images of pets and owners.

Strut 2 Save Lives will welcome a host of area vendors this year, including Pet Wants (dog bones and chews), Emmitt’s Closet (an eclectic and herbal boutique), Finntastic Flora (indoor plants), Noblesville Rocks (jewelry made from polished rocks), MTB Creations (wooden engraved cutting boards, wine corks and more), Teter Organic Farm (organic produce and flowers), Artisan Luuma (African handbags and baskets) and County Line Apparel (T-shirts and clothing accessories). A balloon artist and dog nail trimmer plus food from E&M Hot Diggity Dogs and beer from Moontown Brewing will also be available at the event.

Once again, the business community has come together to support donation and transplantation at this event. This year’s Strut 2 Save Lives sponsors are Schillinger Associates, Nucor Harris Rebar Midwest, RJE Business Interiors, Freije Brands, Indiana Vein Specialists, ExamWorks, OrthoIndy, Select Sewing Service, Riverview Health, Spectrum Brands, Williams Comfort Air and Today’s Champions.

Last year, 111 individuals and five teams participated to raise awareness about organ donation and transplantation. All proceeds from Strut 2 Save Lives benefit Indiana Donor Network Foundation’s Bryan Clauson Legacy Fund, which supports donor families before, during and after their loved one’s donation by providing financial assistance for transportation, accommodations, food and other necessities before and during the donation process.

Strut 2 Save Lives honors the legacy of former Noblesville resident Bryan Clauson, an IndyCar and USAC driver who died in 2016 from injuries sustained in an on-track accident in Kansas. A registered organ and tissue donor, his gifts of life saved five people and helped heal countless others. An avid dog lover, Clauson’s parents, Diana and Tim Clauson, created Strut 2 Save Lives in 2017.

Despite age or medical history, anyone can sign up to be a donor at DonateLifeIndiana.org. Visit the Indiana Donor Network website to learn more about organ donation and transplantation.

Indiana Donor Network’s mission is to save and enhance the quality of life through organ, tissue and eye donation and transplantation. Its vision is to be a leader in organ and tissue recovery. Founded in 1987, the organization coordinates donation in 85 of the state’s 92 counties and serves transplant hospitals throughout the U.S.

The decision to become an organ, tissue and eye donor is a decision to give the gift of life. Indiana Donor Network serves as the vital link between donors and patients waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, healing tissue and corneas to restore sight. The organization is a federally designated organ recovery organization and accredited tissue bank serving 85 of Indiana’s 92 counties.

Its team of more than 225 dedicated professionals is committed to saving and healing lives through donation and transplantation, championing the cause through education and outreach and supporting donor families in their time of need.

For more information or to sign up as a donor, visit Indiana Donor Network online at https://indianadonornetwork.org/

Since 1998, Donate Life Indiana has been the state-authorized nonprofit organization responsible for managing the Indiana donor registry. Its mission is to save lives by creating opportunities for all Indiana citizens to sign up on the organization’s official state registry while striving to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation through public education.

For more, visit Donate Life Indiana via https://www.donatelifeindiana.org/.