Toronto’s Meredith Burns is preparing to run the city’s Yorkville 5K on Sunday, Sept. 8, in a race that marks more than a personal milestone. Two years ago, Burns donated part of her liver to her father, John, in a surgery that saved his life–and transformed hers.
John had been diagnosed with end-stage liver disease in early 2022, and Burns was determined to help. “I’ve always been super close with my dad, and when I found out he was sick, I knew I had to help,” Burns says. “He never asked me to do it, but I knew it was the best decision for both of us.”
She discovered liver donation was an option while researching the life expectancy for end-stage liver disease. After reaching out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre, she discovered she was a universal donor. The surgery gave John a new lease on life—he went from bedridden to walking in the ICU within days. Now, they are celebrating John’s incredible recovery by running the annual Constantine Yorkville Run as part of Team Transplant, alongside 85 other runners who have shared similar life-changing experiences.
Burns says the process was simple, and within three months, she was back to her normal self. “A lot of people don’t know much about organ donation,” says Burns. “I have always been an organ donor, but I didn’t realize the impact it could have until I went through the process myself. It’s a small price to pay to save someone’s life.”
She stresses the importance of raising awareness for living organ donations, particularly because not all organs are viable when someone passes away. “There’s always a need for living donors,” she adds. Her dad, 73, is now in remarkable health. He has ditched his cane, started golfing again, and is aiming to complete Sunday’s 5K in under 60 minutes. “It’s incredible to see him get his life back,” says Burns.
Team Transplant has already raised $75,000 of their $85,000 goal, with all proceeds supporting Toronto’s Centre for Living Organ Donation under UHN. Burns has been an active advocate for UHN since her father’s recovery, committed to spreading the word about organ donation.
Burns says her experience has changed how she views her body. “I’ve been training for the last eight weeks, pushing myself to see what I’m capable of,” she says, following a Nike Run Club 5K training plan. Her goal is to run a 10K in the future for Team Transplant.
Toronto’s Constantine Yorkville 5K Run is a premier boutique race that unites local runners and businesses to raise funds for small, local charities, including Burns’s. Over the past 14 years, the event has raised more than $4.8 million for 20+ local causes. Formerly home to the Athletics Canada 5K road championships (before the pandemic), the race continues to be a staple event for the city’s running community.
