TAMPA, Fla. – Nearly two months after promising to run every day until his father receives a kidney transplant, a Tampa man says his family’s search has reached its most hopeful moment yet.<\/p>\n
Tampa receiver running daily for dad <\/p>\n
What we know:<\/p>\n
Former USF Bulls wide receiver Christian Helms launched his “Running Until My Dad Gets a Kidney” challenge after his father, Chris Helms, who has battled kidney failure for five years, lost a previously identified living donor.<\/p>\n
Since Aug. 6, Helms has documented a daily run of at least one mile, hoping each video reaches someone willing to be screened as a living kidney donor.<\/p>\n
On Sept. 29, marking Day 55 of the challenge, Helms shared the update he and his family had been waiting for.<\/p>\n
“Today a living donor was tested for my dad and it went about as well as you could have hoped for.”<\/p>\n
Mirroring dad\u2019s daily fight <\/p>\n
The backstory:<\/p>\n
Helms said the challenge began as a way to mirror the daily fight his father faces while living with kidney failure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I’m going to do something hard every day because my Dad does something hard every day too.”<\/p>\n
In a Day 21 update, Helms revealed he had already been evaluated as a living donor but was ruled out early because of blood type and antigens. His brother advanced further through the evaluation process but was ultimately determined not to be a compatible match. After another potential donor later became medically ineligible, the family found themselves back at square one.<\/p>\n
That’s when Helms turned again to social media.<\/p>\n
He began asking followers to share his story in hopes it would reach someone willing to be tested through Tampa General Hospital’s living donor program<\/a>. Helms has since said people across the Tampa Bay area have signed up to be screened after seeing his videos.<\/p>\n Transplant process not over <\/p>\n What they’re saying:<\/p>\n While celebrating the latest development, Helms stressed that the transplant process is not finished.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Still got a long way to go. Gotta go through a couple more tests to make sure, but things are looking extremely positive.” He also thanked the community that has rallied behind his family.<\/p>\n “Thank you everyone for the love, the support, the prayers. Keep sending the prayers up.”<\/p>\n Kidney transplant in America <\/p>\n By the numbers:<\/p>\n More than 100,000 Americans are waiting for a kidney transplant.About 17,000 kidney transplants are performed each year, according to the National Kidney Foundation. <\/p>\n What you can do:<\/p>\n Helms encourages anyone interested in living kidney donation to learn whether they’re eligible to become a donor through Tampa General Hospital’s living donor program.<\/a><\/p>\n For those who are unable to donate, he says simply sharing this story can help it reach someone who may be a match.<\/p>\n What’s next:<\/p>\n The potential donor must complete additional medical evaluations before doctors can determine whether the transplant can proceed.<\/p>\n Until then, Helms says he’ll continue the promise he made on Day 1: running at least one mile every day until his father receives a kidney transplant.<\/p>\n The Source: Information in this story comes from Christian Helms’ public social media posts documenting his “Running Until My Dad Gets a Kidney” challenge and kidney transplant statistics provided by the National Kidney Foundation.\u00a0<\/p>\n