Ruby Jane Taylor's legacy is much larger than she ever was. Not yet 1-year-old when she died in 2011 because she was unable to find a donor to save her from a rare liver condition, the infant's death sparked her family to carry the torch for organ donation.
About 450 participants descended on Rancho Santa Margarita Honda on Saturday for the second Run For Ruby 5K and 10K, a fundraiser for the Ruby Jane Foundation.
According to her father, Matt Taylor, the event—which included a raffle and sales—raised about $30,000, an increase of about $5,000 over last year.
There were 12 signups through the "Be the Match" program to become bone marrow donors, and about 10 who became organ donors. Taylor said that each organ donor has the potential to save eight lives, and since the creation of the Ruby Jane Foundation there have been more than 3,000 who have committed to become organ donors.
Ruby Jane was 7 months 7 days old when .
"We've had a lot of great support from the community," said Taylor, whose wife Ani blogged about their ordeal as they waited for a liver donation that never came.
One of those who helped was Boy Scout Braden Butler, who helped coordinate volunteers, setup, takedown and marking the course as part of his Eagle Scout project.
Among those who participated in the 5K was Ani Taylor's father, Craig Bewsey, who did so despite being afflicted with multiple sclerosis; he had been in the hospital three times in the last two months, Matt Taylor said.
