Beaumont Teens Support Onelegacy Float |News

Beaumont High School students are learning the powerful stories behind organ, skin and tissue donations by helping create repeat floats for the Rose Parade.

Azusa-based Onelegacy is the nation's largest organ procurement organization. In partnership with hospitals, physicians, transplant centers, and communities, Generosity educates and promotes giving and builds a community of long-term support for families who give the gift of life.

OneLegacy's theme for Life's Parade Entry is “Let Your Life Soar.” It celebrates Japan's Children's Day with Koi-themed floats decorated with commemorative floral portraits of people who have given their lives to others. Recipients of organs, eyes, and tissues will accompany the float.

About 20 students from Beaumont High School's Donner Organ and Organizing Club volunteered to work on the repeating float, according to Alani Chong, co-president of Beaumont High School's Donner Organ and Organizing Club. They took on tasks such as sorting corn and pinto beans and ironing corn husks and placing them on floats.

“I sorted out the corn and pinto beans,” she added with a laugh.

Teacher/Advisor Kristin Guevara said the students arrived early to the float and for that purpose cut small purple flowers from their stems and sorted kidney beans.

“I planted seeds this year,” she said. “Last year I did corn husks, which was an interesting project. I had to wet it, cut it, iron it, then glue it – all the pieces. I We worked on it for about two and a half hours.

“It's touching to see the floats all together at the end. We've never done one of the End of Days, but it's fulfilling to see it in the Rose Parade. OneLegacy Float always honors those who donate their organs. It's important to be appreciated.”

Four years later, the Donner Organ and Organizing Club has grown to 40 active members and has hosted events such as lunchtime advocacy and the recent World Kindness event.

Chung said she hopes to debunk misconceptions about organ donation through volunteering and being part of the club. Many people she talks to are hesitant to mark the “organ donor” box on their driver's license.

“When we hold events, we say, 'If I'm in a car accident, does that mean they won't take the time to save me?'

“We tell them that's not true. If anything, doctors will help you. If you die, you're helping someone else in need.”

Chung joined the club as a freshman, and since then, the Donor Organ and Tissue Club has partnered with OneLegacy. That made her even more excited to help the community. Her sophomore year, she became vice president and stood up for president as a junior and senior.

Guevara said students have been volunteering for three or four years. They are willing to jump on a bus at 6:30am for a 90 minute drive. The number of volunteers is limited, and sometimes she has too many people interested.

Guevara said volunteers will be asked what they would like to do based on their interests and skills and whether they would like to sit or stand. Students enjoy seeing the fruits of their labor, she said.

“They like to sing along to the Rose Parade song when it's on TV,” she said.

Gabala – who checked the organ donor box on his license – is enjoying a teenage interest in medicine. She has been in the medical field for over 20 years.

“At Beaumont High School, I teach a medical technology program,” she said. “I see all the students who want to go into the medical field and get a good foundation for it.”

They have the opportunity to work at the nonprofit Starting Line Strength and Stability Center.

“It’s a nonprofit organization, so it’s not part of Beaumont High School,” Guevara said.

“But we do it on campus. People with Parkinson's disease come to school and receive care. With Parkinson's disease, the doctor diagnoses the person and sends them home. Using the Rock Steady Boxing program I'm doing it.

This is a program designed for people with Parkinson's disease. Utilize a non-contact boxing-based fitness curriculum to improve symptoms such as slow, small movements, imbalances, stiffness, flexed posture, and respiratory fragility associated with Parkinson's disease.

This program aims to expand power, strength, flexibility, speed, and balance.

“It’s very well known on the East Coast, but not so well known on the West Coast,” she said. “It is known to reverse Parkinson’s disease, or at least slow it down.

“Studies have shown that individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who engage in high-intensity exercise at least four days a week stop or reverse the progression of their symptoms. This is surprising. It’s the right thing to do.”