Organ donors are honored

Capt. Chad Ponegalek spoke about the life of fellow Newport Beach firefighter Kevin Pryor before a crowd of more than 7,000 people who gathered for the Donate Life Run/Walk and Family Festival at California State University, Fullerton on Saturday.

Pryor, 31, became a seven-time organ donor after he died of a sudden, non-traumatic brain hemorrhage in June 2008.

He died just after returning from working as part of an Orange County strike team protecting homes from the 2008 Humbolt Fire in Northern California.

The firefighter donated both lungs, both kidneys, his heart, liver and pancreas to the nonprofit organ and tissue-recovery agency Onelegacy, saving several lives.

Eight baskets of doves were released at the Saturday event in honor of area organ donors, including Pryor.

Sponsored by Onelegacy, the Donate Life Run/Walk and Family Festival is the largest Donate Life-themed community event in the nation.

The event is geared toward inspiring Californians to be organ and tissue donors and caps off National Donate Life Month.

City council members and mayors from 18 Orange County cities participated in the event.

— Brianna Bailey