Markert had always wanted to hold a 5k to raise awareness for organ donation after receiving her own lung transplants which greatly improved and extended her life.

Emily Markert’s mother, Liz, has organized the event every year, even holding a virtual event during a pandemic, to raise money and awareness for organ, tissue, and eye donation. Although Emily Markert passed seven years ago, this year will be the eighth event.

“We had already planned it and then she passed and we couldn’t not have it, we knew she wouldn’t want that,” Liz Markert said.

In addition to remembering Emily Markert, the event honors others who have passed and chosen to donate.

This is the logo for the Emily’s Fight — Donate Life event.

Liz Markert explained, “Every year I connect with a family who has lost a loved one who has been an organ donor and I put their name on Emily’s T-shirts.”

This year, Carlos Rosales’ name will be on the T-shirts. Rosales, 9, passed away on June 9 after suffering a brain bleed on June 6. His parents chose to donate his organs.

Liz Markert is a volunteer with the Iowa Donor Network and through that network, connected with Rosales’ parents, Erasmo and Yahaira, and asked if she could include him in this year’s honorees.

“I started a memory table so everyone who is honored on the shirt, I have their picture and their story on this memory table … We never want our loved ones to be forgotten about,” she said.

The T-shirts will also feature a tree with green ribbons, a symbol of giving hope and sharing life through organ, eye and tissue donation, and the words “Life grows on.”

According to the Iowa Donor Network website, there are currently 583 Iowans waiting for an organ transplant. One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save and heal more than 200 lives through tissue donation.

The eighth annual Emily’s Fight — Donate Life 5k run/walk will be held July 31, beginning at the Manson Northwest Webster High School track on North Main Street. Registration will be 7 a.m. until 7:45 a.m. and the race starts at 8 a.m. Participants may also register before the race online up until the day before at getmeregistered.com/emilymarkerts5k.

This year, the path will be slightly different than in the past.

“They’re going to take two laps around the track and then head out on the cross country trail. The whole purpose of that is Emily was a runner in track and cross country so that’s her stomping ground,” said Liz Markert.

To participate:

What: Emily’s Fight — Donate life 5k run/walk

When: July 31. Registration stars at 7 a.m., run/walk starts at 8 a.m.

Where: Manson Northwest Webster High School track

To register: Go to getmeregis tered.com/emilymarkerts5k