First step toward building garden to honor donors
(Sept. 10, 2008) More than 40 runners and walkers at Anschutz Medical Campus stepped out to show their appreciation for the people who given all of themselves to benefit generations to come.
The inaugural Donor Memorial 5K on Aug. 23 raised more than $700 to go toward the construction of the Anschutz Medical Campus Donor Memorial Garden.
“The Donor Memorial Garden at Anschutz Medical Campus is an effort to honor the donors who selflessly gave their bodies to further medical education and scientific advancement,” explains Rachelle Klammer of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “The garden was designed to be the ‘emotional center’ of Anschutz Medical Campus.” It will be located between the education and the research buildings at the Southeast corner of Building 500.
The idea for the memorial started as a class project in 2006. The original concept was a stand of trees with a plaque to commemorate the gift these “first patients” gave. “This evolved into an amphitheater and became a multidisciplinary project of all Colorado students who take anatomy,” she explains.
A CU Foundation account was created however, rather than solicit money from families of the donors, the SOM students and faculty decided to initiate other forms of fund-raising. “Our 5K is just the beginning,” Klammer says.
Plans are already under way for the second annual event in addition to other activities to raise money during the spring or winter.
Those interested can contact the CU Foundation and donate to the “Donor Memorial Garden.” For questions, contact rachelle.klammer@ucdenver.edu.
Photos: Top, runners take off at the Donor Memorial 5K. Bottom, an early sketch of the possible garden design.