Our Story
The Vision -
Eliminate the wait for transplantation.
The Mission -
Educate individuals to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors,
and inspire those in the transplant community to live their best lives.
The Catalyst…
On November 18th, 1972, Chris was born in Vail, Colorado. From a young age, he discovered his passion for extreme sports. Initially captivated by the thrill of skateboarding, he soon found an even greater passion - Snowboarding. As he grew, he honed his skills, and this passion transformed into a career. In the 1990s, Chris emerged as a trailblazer in the sport, his dedication earning him a coveted spot on the US Olympic Snowboarding Team in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
Yet behind the scenes, Chris was facing a monumental challenge. In 1996, Chris was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) after a routine check-up noted he had high liver enzymes. The doctor delivered the heart-stopping news that Chris would eventually require a life-saving liver transplant. Despite this daunting reality, Chris’ spirit never wavered, and he continued to challenge himself at every opportunity. While waiting for the call was the hardest part of his journey, he remained positive. He wore a pager every minute of the day and carried a phone as a backup, waiting to receive the call that a match had been found, and his life would be saved.
Chris spent 6 years on the transplant waitlist, with 3 months at the critical level. One day, he was working out with a few friends when his phone rang. They had found his match. Relief washed over him, mingled with the daunting prospect of the impending surgery. On July 28th, 2000, Chris received his life-saving liver transplant and was out of the hospital in record time (4 Days)!
He stayed in Denver for the first month due to the high risk and constant appointments. The doctors told him walking and resting were the best things he could do. Ever the competitor, Chris took this and ran with it. He walked to Broncos Games, Rockies Games, The Aquarium, and all over the city. He even walked a round of golf following Phil Mickelson and others at the International in Castle Rock, and he spent half an hour sitting at the 18th hole catching his breath before trekking back to the car.
Before he knew it, Chris was back in Aspen and easing back into strength work. Within four and a half weeks, he was back on his bike, riding with friends. Though the first few rides left his lungs working overtime. After 8 weeks, he took his first runs on a snowboard at Mt Hood in Oregon, and just 4 months later, he rejoined the World Circuit. In 6 months, he stood on the podium in Olang, Italy, celebrating one of his best seasons ever.
A year and a half later, he represented Team USA at the Olympics, proudly bringing home a bronze medal. Chris raced in honor of his lifelong dream to win an Olympic Medal, the love, strength, and support of his family that got him there, and the donor and their family, who gave him a second chance at life.
The Heroes…
We would not still be here sharing Chris’ story today without several people! A transplant only occurs when there are a number of heroes in place to make it happen!
Chris received his transplant at UC Health Dr Greg Everson and his team ensured Chris remained as healthy and ready as possible as he awaited his lifesaving transplant. Dr. Igal Kam performed Chris’ surgery perfectly, giving him a second chance at life and the best chance for an incredible recovery.
Chris’ family and friends were his support and caregivers during the process. Caregivers are often the unthanked individuals in the transplant process, but without them, transplants would not occur. Chris’s parents, Warren and Kathy, his future wife, Missy, and many others were there whenever Chris needed support or a shoulder to lean on.
The final piece of the puzzle and the biggest heroes of all are donors and the donor families who, in their hardest time, choose to save someone else’s life. Words are not enough to say thank you for the gift of life.
Chris’ donor was a 13-year-old boy named Billy Flood who was killed in a gunshot accident. His mother, Leisa, was not sure when the doctor first mentioned organ donation, but after her husband said it was what Billy would want, and she thought about how kind and loving Billy was, they made the decision to save yes and let Billy become a hero donor. Billy’s family stood in the crowd the day Chris won his bronze medal and cheered not only for Chris but also for their son, Billy.
The Start…
As Chris sat waiting for the call, he made two promises to himself: first, he would live every moment to the fullest in honor of the lifesaving gift he had received; second, he would give back to the community that had saved his life. He realized he had the perfect platform to spread his message further, especially after winning an Olympic bronze medal. His story could inspire others on the transplant waitlist, demonstrating that the impossible is indeed possible. One can lead an extraordinary life post-transplant and achieve what once seemed unattainable.
With this in mind, Chris came up with the idea of merging his passion for action sports with organ donation education. He believed it was essential to inform, educate, and inspire young people about the importance of registering as organ donors before they even reached the DMV.
In 2003, with $3,000 from his savings, he founded the Chris Klug Foundation to educate, inspire, and register individuals as organ donors. Chris traveled across the country, speaking to high school students, patients, medical professionals, and others, sharing his story in hopes of motivating individuals to register as donors and inspiring those undergoing transplants.
Donor Dudes became the first program which helped young people organize events at their schools, such as game nights where participants wore green socks to raise awareness. Additionally, the Patient Ambassador series took transplant recipients into hospitals to discuss various topics related to transplantation, inspiring patients, caregivers, supporters, and others about life after transplant.
Meanwhile, Chris continued his passion for snowboarding, hitting the mountain whenever he could, and explored every new sport he had the chance to try. He married his wife, Missy, and they welcomed two children, River and Bali!
The Current…
The Chris Klug Foundation has continued to thrive, grow, and work towards our vision to eliminate the wait for a transplant. Growing from a volunteer team to 2 full-time staff members and 1 part-time staff member, we are honored every day by the individuals we have the privilege to raise awareness among and inspire. We have expanded to draw attention to the need for all donors from organ to tissue, cornea, stem cell, and blood.
The foundation reached over 1 million individuals annually about organ, eye, and tissue donation nationwide. We have grown our Donor Dudes program to welcome all ages and all events, and have added our Legacy of Life Educational Series, a free curriculum that educates about donation.
We have a Bike and Run team representing the mission in some of the world’s biggest races, including the New York City Marathon, Leadville 100, Unbound Gravel, Sydney, Cape Town, Berlin, and Tokyo Marathons!
We still run on Chris ethos of inspiring those to achieve the impossible, but now we have even more phenomenal stories through our CKF Ambassadors and Beyond the Gift programs. Our CKF Awards see us celebrate 3 individuals with incredible journeys each year.
CKF also wants to support those in the community who may not have had as easy an experience as Chris. That is where our podcast, The Unspoken, is a great tool that focuses on topics not discussed enough in the world of transplant and donation.
There are numerous huge events on our calendar each year, including Donate Life Month and National Donor Day, which a CKF board member founded. However, two of our favorites are our very own Summit for Life and Wine & Dine, both magical evenings in their own right that inspire generations to take the step of registering and supporting organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Chris, while not as involved day-to-day, still leads the charge as our Board President, CKF Bike Team Member, Summit for Life climber, inspirational speaker, Gold Podium & Flame member, and event sponsor! Chris still loves to snowboard, bike, hike, and enjoy life; the only difference now is that he spends much of his time cheering on his two teenagers as they chase their dreams. The Chris Klug Foundation continues to inspire, educate, and register!
