Although the end of the pandemic is seemingly in sight here in Saskatchewan, a number of events are still being cancelled due to public health guidelines and health risks, including the 2021 Transplant Trot.

Organizer Roxanna Gadd-Frey, explains why and what they'll be doing instead.

"Transplant recipients and anyone waiting for transplants are immuno-compromised, so we felt that we should not gather. We were hoping to go forward with it this year, but it didn't happen so we're looking forward to next year. There is an alternative though; all provinces across Canada are going to compete against each other and all participants are going to walk, run, or bike their share of 14,000 km's."

The virtual run is being put on by the Canadian Transplant Association and will take place from now until June 13. All you have to do is sign up for free and track how many kilometres you run, walk, or bike.

"I checked online to see the province totals and New Brunswick is doing an amazing job and has 84 participants," says Gadd-Frey, "Saskatchewan has 40, but I have faith that the people who support our Moose Jaw Transplant Trot will step up when they hear this and join our virtual trot to show Canada that Saskatchewan really has the best trotters."

To register, you can visit www.move2.help/ctatrot. Once there, join the provincial team named Sask Prairie Trotters, then use your smartphone or smartwatch to track your distance.

As mentioned, it is completely free to join but there are opportunities online to donate to the Canadian Transplant Association through the website.

The local Moose Jaw Transplant Trot would be entering its 7th year this year, after being started by Kevyn Gadd in 2015.

Gadd had heart and lung issues since he was a child and had heart surgeries when he was just an infant. He was told by doctors at the age of three he was as healthy as he was going to be, but in 2013, Gadd began to have issues breathing and was taken to a hospital in Edmonton. He would receive a double lung transplant in early 2014.

Since his transplant, Gadd has been an advocate for organ donations and is one of the organizers of the annual Moose Jaw Transplant Trot.