UK HealthCare

UK, UofL rivalry continues with 3rd decade of Gift of Life Challenge

graphic with text "there are over 100,000 Americans awaiting a lifesaving transplant"
More than 1,000 Kentuckians are on the waiting list to receive a lifesaving organ.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 3, 2022) — The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville are keeping their rivalry and competitive spirit alive while inspiring thousands of people to join the Kentucky Organ Donor Registry with the 21st year of the Gift of Life College Challenge.

“UK and U of L fans may be bitter rivals when it comes to sports, but one thing we can all come together on is the need for more organ donors,” said Melinda Fox, administrator for the UK Transplant Center. “At the end of the day, we’re all Kentuckians, and we look out for each other. By joining the registry, you can give the gift of a second chance at life.”

During the three-week challenge, which began Nov. 1, the universities will compete to see which school’s fan base can register the most people as organ donors. Since the Gift of Life Challenge began in 2001, college students, faculty, coaches and staff have encouraged thousands to join the organ donor registry through campus events, social media posts, newsletter articles and donor registry sign-up stations on campus.

“It is our mission to save lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation, and as the number of registered organ donors grows, so will the number of lives saved,” says Shelley Snyder, executive director for Donate Life Kentucky. “For that reason, this is really a competition with no losers — every name added to the Kentucky Organ Donor Registry gives hope to the 1,000 Kentuckians in need of an organ transplant.”

Both universities receive a unique link to the donor registry to help with sign-ups. At the end of the challenge, a trophy will be awarded to the top school during the Battle of the Bluegrass men’s basketball game on Dec. 31.

Learn more about the Gift of Life Challenge or register to become an organ donor here

About Donate Life KY
Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) is an organ procurement organization whose mission is to provide organs and tissues to those in need while maintaining a profound respect for those who gave. The mission of Trust For Life (TFL) is to educate and encourage Kentuckians to register as organ and tissue donors while obtaining a driver’s license and beyond. These organizations partner in education and outreach and use the combined national Donate Life brand; learn more here.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.