2016 Cory Tarrant
CORY TARRANT
Tissue and Cornea Donor
Age 17 ~ Castaic, CA
Donated on 06/30/2012
at Los Robles Hospital
Honored by www.tbionline.org
Cory Tarrant was living a beautiful life filled with so much love, fun and excitement. He was respected and admired by so many for his positive outlook on life and his ability to always lift up his friends. He had a beautiful eye for photography, with nature being a favored subject, but his true passion was for motocross. On June 24, 2012, Cory suffered a fall while riding his bike and never regained consciousness. He passed away six days later. His parents honored his wishes to become a donor and Cory made the gift of his tissues and corneas, a decision they have never regretted.
Cory’s Story
Cory Tarrant was an amazing young man at the age of 17. He stood 6 foot 3 inches tall and was a picture of health. Cory was living a beautiful life filled with so much love, fun and excitement. He was respected and admired by so many for his positive outlook on life and his ability to always lift up his friends. Cory excelled in any activity he chose to participate in. He had a beautiful eye for photography with nature always being his preferred subject. Every year his mother, Kathy, uses a photo taken by Cory for the front of their Christmas card. He was a kind and thoughtful young man who never once raised his voice to his mother. Cory’s true passion was his love of riding dirt bikes.
On a beautiful Sunday, June 24th, 2012, Cory drove away from the family home to enjoy a day of riding motocross. Cory had called home to say there was no need for his mother to come to the track to join him for lunch because he was going to pack it up and head home. The next phone call from the Tarrant’s oldest son is the kind of phone call all parents fear. Cory had fallen and medical help was on the way. His parents arrived at the track as they were preparing Cory for the med flight.
Cory never regained consciousness and his family said their good byes six days later. Since that day, they have never regretted the decision to honor Cory’s wishes to be a donor.
Cory’s parents now lead a team of approximately 50 walkers every year at the Donate Life Run/Walk where Kathy, works hard to be a top fundraiser. The Tarrants have had numerous news stories done about Cory and his donation and the establishment of the Cory Tarrant Forever Young Foundation, which to date has donated hundreds of books to local elementary schools and over 600 teddy bears to local hospitals. Cory has left some very big shoes to fill and his family works very hard every day to do just that.
Kathy says, “We are proud and so honored to be Cory’s family. This 13th year of OneLegacy’s participation in the Rose Parade holds such a special place in our hearts; you see, Cory was born on the 13th of January and all of his riding numbers were the number 13. On the day of the parade, January 1st, 2016, it will be 13 days to what would have been Cory’s 21st birthday.” The Tarrant family is honored to participate in this coming Rose Parade in honor of Cory.