Darwin Javier Rivera lived life to the fullest, enjoying every bit of it during his short 22 years. He was a carefree person, with a giving spirit and would help anyone in need of assistance. He was a loving brother and uncle.

When he was two years old, Darwin and his family moved to the United States from Honduras. Five years later, his mother died, and Darwin and his two siblings were then raised by their uncle until he was 17. From that point on, the three were basically on their own. Despite adversity in his young life, Darwin didn’t allow the challenges to keep him from having dreams and goals in life.

Darwin was a sports enthusiast and avid soccer player. He began playing at a very young age and was in soccer leagues since the age of seven. Soccer was his main escape from all that life had thrown at him, and he became very good at it. Darwin loved soccer so much and was so talented that he played in all of the Latino/Spanish leagues in the upstate part of South Carolina.

After graduating from Berea High School in 2006, Darwin attended Greenville Technical School. In 2008, he transferred to Spartanburg Methodist College, where he began working on an associate’s degree in business and marketing, and also was a walk-on soccer player.

Just over a year before he died, Darwin and his older brother, Antonio, discussed organ and tissue donation when Darwin was updating his driver’s license. They both agreed that donation is the greatest gift you can give others. On August 4, 2010, Darwin died in a motorcycle accident. He saved six lives through organ donation and potentially will improve many more through tissue donation.