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Man Who Lived 7 Years Without A Heart To Participate In Organ Donation Awareness Event On Belle Isle

heart brothers
WWJ's Dr. Deanna Lites poses for a photo with Stan and Dominique Larkin. (WWJ photo)

DETROIT (WWJ) - Metro Detroiters are invited to participate in a fun event on Belle Isle this weekend — and learn about becoming a life-saver.

The Gift of Life's Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program, or MOTTEP, is holding a walk-run the morning of Saturday, July 30 — featuring heart transplant recipients and brothers Stan and Dominique Larkin.

After he collapsed while playing basketball in 2007, Stan Larkin, then 16, was diagnosed with a heart condition that is the leading cause of sudden death among young athletes.

Doctors recommended testing for Larkin's immediate family members and they discovered his younger brother, Dominique, also had the heart condition. He lived without a fully-functioning heart for more than seven years, and finally received a heart transplant in January 2015.

Stan Larkin set a record for carrying a portable artificial heart in a backpack the longest — a year and a half —  while waiting for the heart he finally received from a donor in May.

"It's like a never had a heart problem ever," Stan Larkin told WWJ's Dr. Deanna Lites. "My energy level is all the way up. I can do whatever I want, basically."

He'll be at Belle Isle with this three kids in tow.

"Because I want to encourage people that there's hope in becoming donors, because you could save a life...Somebody saved mine," he said. "Once you're gone, there's nothing you can do with the organ, so it's better off to save a life than to let the organ go to waste."

Remonia Chapman, director of MOTTEP, said the brothers' journey highlights the special need for minorities to become organ donors.

She said attracting minority organ donors tends to be more challenging; with one reason being that many African Americans feel they won't be treated fairly by the health care system.

"Hopefully, Stan and Dominique's experience will help to educate others about the transparent process and rewards that come from organ donation,"Chapman said.

"We just ask everyone to come out and join with us and share in a fantastic time at Belle Isle...It's a great cause. We promise you'll have a great time, and once you come we promise and know that you'll be back."

Registration for the Walk/Run starts at 7 a.m. on Saturday with the 5K and 10K races that kick off at 8 a.m., 5K Walk at 8:30 a.m. and Kids' Fun Run at 10:25 a.m

Registration is $35 for walkers and $40 for runners. The race is free for kids 12 and younger. Registered participants will receive an event t-shirt.

To join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, go to www.giftoflifemichigan.org. Walk/run participants will have an opportunity to join the registry at the race.

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