A Ballard woman and heart transplant survivor will participate as a tag sled driver in the opening ceremony of Alaska’s legendary Iditarod dog sled race on Saturday, March 5.

Diane Bedell will drive a tag sled for the ceremonial start of the race behind the sled of Jan Steves of Edmonds, Wash. This is Steves’ fifth Iditarod.

“This is definitely a bucket list item,” says Bedell. “But each day to me is a bucket list item since getting my new heart. It is a greatest gift I ever could have hoped for.”

Diane has been involved with dog sledding for over 20 years, and her history includes being an outfitter guide in Minnesota for nine years.

During the ceremony Diane will honor organ donation and Life Center NW, an organ procurement organization. She hopes to draw attention to the need for organ donors and the impact donors can make on others in need. According to Life Center NW, 22 people die every day waiting for transplants.

“I really want to make it about celebrating donation and the gift of life and my donor’s family.”

“Diane’s story exemplifies the transformational power of organ donation,” says Kevin O’Connor, CEO of LifeCenter Northwest. “Seeing people go on to live healthy, active lives after receiving a life-saving organ transplant inspires all of us at LifeCenter Northwest to help more and more people every year.”

Diane received a heart transplant in 2013 after spending two years on a transplant waiting list. During that time she was diagnosed with heart failure. She was initially diagnosed with an AV block and received a pacemaker. Her condition progressed to her needing a defibrillator. During that time she began having cardiac arrests. Between November 2010 and October 2011, she experienced 16 cardiac arrests. In December of 2011, Diane needed an LVAD implant. That’s when she was placed on the transplant waiting list.

“Prior to donation you are not really aware of it until it affects you or your family. There is a need for people to be more aware of donating, and you need to know you can make a difference in other peoples’ lives.”

Diane said that she received her new heart sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a time when it is especially hard to lose a family member.

“It has deeply affected me, especially for when it happened. … To be able to do this, while raising awareness of the greatest gift someone can give — the gift of life — this is just amazing to me.”

For more information, or to register to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor, go to www.lcnw.org. 

Also visit https://www.gofundme.com/Iditarod4Life to help Diane build awareness about organ donation.