2026 Rider Honorees
Meet the float riders touched through donation and transplantation.
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Braxton McKeirnan, a 17-year-old junior from Pomeroy, WA, has been a dedicated athlete his entire life. In 8th grade, he was injured while playing football, enduring repeated shoulder dislocations. Despite the setbacks, his determination carried him to the State B track meet, where he placed 5th in pole vaulting with a vault of 12 feet. His freshman year brought further challenges, as dislocations, surgeries, and recovery forced him to the sidelines. By his sophomore year, Braxton worked his way back to earn a starting varsity position on the basketball team, only to suffer another severe shoulder injury. In 2023, Braxton underwent surgery at Mayo Clinic with Dr. John Tokish, receiving two allografts: a humeral head allograft and a left distal tibial allograft for the shoulder socket. Thanks to the gift of tissue donation, Braxton is once again hopeful for his future in sports, farming, and life. His gratitude toward his donors and their families inspires him to share the importance of donation. -
Brenda Johnson of Los Angeles grew up in a large family with eleven siblings, surrounded by love and laughter. During her 50s, Brenda was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. After months of uncertainty, she received a lifesaving liver transplant in 2009, a gift from a generous deceased donor that restored her health and hope. Several years later, her health declined again, and she was placed on the kidney transplant waitlist. In November 2017, Brenda's surgeon at UCLA called with unexpected news. A kidney had become available. In an extraordinary twist, the kidney had been transplanted into another recipient who was unable to accept it, allowing the organ to be regifted to Brenda. Now living life to the fullest, Brenda cherishes every moment with her daughter and family. She will join the family of Elmer Valenzuela, her deceased donor, and the previous recipient of her kidney, Samer Flaih. All three will be honored on the 2026 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float. -
In his twenties, Byron Thompson was diagnosed with a heart condition. Despite surviving a life-threatening stroke in 2008, his condition eventually left him with only one choice: a heart transplant. Unfortunately, Byron did not have the caregiver support required to be added to the transplant waitlist. That's when something wonderful happened. A community of friends stepped up. People he had known for years, along with some more recent acquaintances, became anchors in his life, giving him a second chance he never thought possible. Organ donation and transplantation transcend acts of kindness; His donor and his friends provided love, community, and support. He learned that community is defined by people in your life that care about you; it's also built through trust, compassion, and caring. This experience, though filled with challenges, opened his heart in new ways. -
Christian Gomez was born prematurely at 34 weeks, weighing just 3 pounds, 11 ounces. Soon after birth, doctors discovered he suffered from biliary atresia, a rare liver disease that blocks the bile ducts. Despite an early surgery to restore bile flow, his liver continued to fail. At just nine months old, Christian received the ultimate gift of life when his mother became his living donor, giving him a portion of her liver. His transplant on March 31, 2008, became a day his family now celebrates as his "second birthday." For many years, Christian thrived, growing stronger, active, and full of life. But seventeen years later, his liver began to fail again, and he was placed back on the transplant list. In May 2025, a donor's selfless gift gave Christian a second transplant—and a third chance at life. His journey stands as a profound reminder that organ donation gives families hope, healing, and the chance to dream again. -
For many years, Damita lived a wonderful life, enjoying time with family, a fulfilling career and traveling. She always followed a healthy lifestyle and was shocked when her breathing became difficult. She was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2010. Damita was listed for a lung transplant, and she waited for a lifesaving double lung transplant for three years until she contracted a severe case of pneumonia, which took her off the list for six months. She had to retake several major tests to be re-listed. On August 14, 2014, just 6 days before her birthday, Damita received the call. Since then, she has always referred to her transplant as a gift from God. Receiving a double-lung transplant has allowed Damita to live her best life. Damita has traveled to many beautiful places and has spent precious time with her daughters and beloved Mother. Damita remains forever grateful to her donor and their family for giving her a second chance of life. -
When Elsa Garcia-Chau received her heart failure diagnosis, she always put others first and kept up her busy pace until hospitalizations from her ICD shocks began to impact her life. Throughout her illness, family humor and quick wit provided the support needed to weather uncertainty. The unspoken pact was positivity. "In it, to win it" became the family mantra. At age 59, Elsa received a lifesaving heart transplant. Her adventure continues because a generous person checked the "YES" box. Her donated heart has enabled Elsa to return to a quality of life full of laughter, game nights, and hugging grandkids - two of them were born after her transplant. Although she has retired from teaching in Santa Ana, California, she is active in the transplant community as an advocate, a volunteer Ambassador for OneLegacy, and a Womenheart Champion. She enjoys her Abuela duties as she now shuttles her grandkids around in her green Subaru. -
At 17, Isabel was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. Facing an incurable condition and in need of lifesaving treatment, she made the difficult choice to leave her parents, friends, and university studies in her hometown of Benjamin Hill, Sonora, Mexico, and move to the United States. Over the next 16 years, she received treatment at various hospitals across Los Angeles. Despite continuous care, her heart and lungs eventually began to fail, and she relied on oxygen around the clock. She was listed on the transplant waiting list for a heart and double lung transplant, and in 2013, she received a second chance at life. After a long and challenging recovery, Isabel was able to reclaim her life. Because of her donor, she has watched her beloved nieces and nephews grow and has embraced each new day with gratitude. Today, she volunteers her time as a OneLegacy Ambassador, sharing her story and inspiring the Hispanic community to say "YES" to organ donation. -
Jamie Alcroft is a heart and liver transplant recipient, comedian, author, voice actor, and passionate OneLegacy Ambassador. After receiving his lifesaving transplants in 2017, Jamie dedicated himself to spreading awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation through humor, storytelling, and community engagement. Jamie has hosted OneLegacy's Virtual Open Mic Nights for local high schools, led a series of Donor Appreciation Nights at the famous Hermosa Beach Magic & Comedy Club, creating LAFF4LIFE, a national program offering registered donors free tickets to IMPROV/LEVITY LIVE Comedy Clubs. Jamie's creative approach has inspired countless audiences, opening doors for new partnerships, and expanding OneLegacy's reach. Jamie continues to share his story nationwide, reminding others of "the ultimate recyclable, us!." His deep gratitude toward his donor and their family fuels his mission to encourage others to register. Jamie lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Two-time Emmy winning ice choreographer Sarah Kawahara. -
Lauren Martelle was 19 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening liver condition. In 2007, after a series of hospital visits and rapidly worsening conditions, she was placed on the national transplant waiting list. She received a lifesaving liver transplant just one week later at Sutter's California Pacific Medical Center. Because of her transplant, Lauren was able to complete her degree, marry the love of her life, and welcome the joy of nieces and nephews into her world. Grateful for the gift she received, Lauren has dedicated herself to honoring the legacy of donors and advocating for the power of organ donation. She now serves as a Donate Life Ambassador with Donor Network West, sharing her story throughout northern Nevada to inspire others to join the organ donor registry. Lauren also sits on the board of Sierra Nevada Donor Awareness, a nonprofit that provides financial support to those affected by organ donation. -
Lorenzo Luarca Beronilla, a fan-favorite chef on Epicurious' 4 Levels and a talented actor, is also a proud heart transplant recipient. His passions for cooking, performing, and connecting with people were interrupted by sudden breathlessness, the first sign of heart failure. Diagnosed with a heart functioning at just 16% capacity, he was admitted to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY, and placed on the transplant list. Only sixteen days later, on Good Friday, Lorenzo received a lifesaving donor heart. His family's unwavering support transformed fear into resilience, deepening bonds and creating lasting gratitude. Today, Lorenzo lives vibrantly, filming commercials, cooking segments, and independent films, while savoring simple joys like morning coffee. He explores global flavors, mentors young chefs and actors, and shares joy through storytelling. His openness about transplantation has inspired his family to advocate for donation and spread awareness in their community. Each heartbeat reminds him of the extraordinary gift he received, one he honors daily with love, gratitude, and purpose. -
Mark Kessler was born in New York City to German immigrant parents. He moved back to Germany with his family at the age of four, where he developed a love for travel and hospitality. Working weekends at a Hotel in Munich, he discovered his passion, which led to a global career in the hospitality industry across Germany, the UAE, Egypt, Thailand, and the U.S. In 2007, while living in Hawaii, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. For many years, medication kept him active—cycling, hiking, and skiing—until his condition worsened in 2024. After receiving a defibrillator at UCI Long Beach, his cardiologist referred him to UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, where he was placed on the heart transplant list. That same year, he received the gift of a new heart. Following a remarkable recovery, he returned to full-time work in 2025, deeply grateful for his donor and the second chance at life he received. -
Samer Flaih was born and raised in Syria, where he grew up surrounded by strong family values and a deep appreciation for community. In 2007, he made the life-changing decision to move to the United States in search of new opportunities. Starting from the ground up, Samer immediately began working to support his family and build a better future in his new country. Known for his determination, work ethic, and quiet strength, Samer is someone who leads by example. He takes pride in providing for his family, staying loyal to his roots, and navigating every challenge with patience and humility. In 2017, after experiencing kidney failure and receiving a lifesaving kidney transplant, Samer made the courageous decision to regift the donor's kidney when his body started rejecting it shortly after the transplant. This is how Samer became Brenda Johnson's living kidney donor with the kidney he received from Elmer Valenzuela. All three will be honored on the 2026 OneLegacy Donate Life float.