Liver donor Sara Kate Gillingham and recipient Dave Kane operating New York Metropolis Marathon collectively

Among the many 33,000 runners within the fiftieth New York Metropolis Marathon Sunday might be two associates with an unusual bond. It is going to be a celebration of life for Sara Kate Gillingham and Dave Kane.

“It is very nice to have the ability to sit right here and smile and chuckle about it. But it surely was a really darkish time,” says Gillingham.

That darkish time dates again greater than 4 years, when Kane was combating for his life. “The prognosis was fairly grim,” he says.

Docs discovered most cancers within the bile ducts of his liver. He wanted a transplant.

When phrase unfold on Fb, Gillingham, already a pal, stepped up.

“I do not know, I simply felt a calling. I felt like I’m in a very good place to do that,” she says.

Docs eliminated 60% of Gillingham’s liver and transplanted it into Kane.

“Sara Kate saved my life,” Kane says. “That is what’s so nice about this chance to run and to publicize, you understand, the unimaginable bravery and generosity and love of Sara Kate and the chance to be a donor.”

After they race on Sunday, they’re going to be elevating cash for the American Liver Basis and, they hope, elevating consciousness about organ donation.

When requested if there was one factor she would need the general public to learn about being a dwelling donor, Gillingham stated, “I suppose it is that it’s very attainable to make a much bigger affect on the world than you suppose is feasible by doing this — digging deep in your self to offer one thing that could be very scary.”

Gillingham now coaches different donors by means of the expertise and says saving Kane’s life added which means to her personal.

Gillingham and Kane started planning final yr, however the 2020 NYC Marathon was canceled due to the pandemic.