STEP BY STEP
ORGAN TRANSPLANT ASSOC.

Background

Spring of 1992- After a routine medical checkup, fitness promoter and Toronto native George Marcello was told he had 2 years left to live as a result of a virus infecting his liver.

Aug 2, 1995 George was rushed to the hospital and was told he had 2 days left to live. He received a liver transplant the next day

George wanted to passionately acknowledge this gift in the most profound and respectful manner to the family that saved his life. And created a charity called Step By Step. His mission which became revealed; was to address Canada and the worlds organ shortage.

I cant sing or dance
So why not walk
And walk he did by completing 6 high profile campaigns

1997 He Completed 500 km Toronto Ottawa Walk (14 days)

1999 He Completed 2,500 km Ontario Walk (96 days)

2000-2002 Completed 12,000 km, 500 cities/towns, 769 day walk across Canada 9 seasons

2004-2005 He brought a 14 year old year old boy who was waiting for liver transplant across 200 cities Kristophers Wish (365 days)

2005 2006 He Completed European Tour (5 countries)
Nov 1 2006, after a 2nd liver transplant He Completed Toronto Ottawa Walk again

Oct. 2007-June 2008-organized and supervised a 100 student torch relay across Canada

George Marcello and his charity Step By Step have brought organ and tissue donations to the forefront in Canada and parts of the world. He has relentlessly challenged our country in many ways to rise to the top when it comes to organ and tissue donations. In the past 10 years, he Inspired/Created
Over 4000 positive media stories
Over a million people to touch the Torch of Life
Over 1000 members from 3 levels of Government
Over 1000 consultations with the public
Over 4,000 events
Premier Harris to allocate 120 million dollars towards provincial organ programs
Prime Minister Chretien to allocate 20 million dollars towards federal organ programs
Pope John Paul II to have audience with George and promote organ donations worldwide
Federal and Provincial legislators to improve the organ system in many ways
Health groups to medically improve the rate of organ donation
Thousands of government officials across Canada

Some memorable quotes from the media

From the back alleys to Vatican City The Italian Terry Fox Inspired a nation, inspired the world
Most travelled person in Canada A mothers biggest worry to a mothers biggest joy Yes he can
Politics, bureaucracies and George from one humble step to Pope JP2 to Obama a story that has to be told on the doorstep of the worlds next biggest health and social issue step by step anything is possible from a dream to a reality

STEP BY STEP
ORGAN TRANSPLANT ASSOC.

4th Campaign
Kristopher's Wish
Jan 8 - Dec 20 2004

Video Presentations

Kristopher Knowles was born in 1990 and was afflicted with the deadly liver disease Biliary Atresia. He needed a liver transplant. Somehow he survived after over 20 operations.He met George Marcello when he was 10 years old in July 2000 during the Canada 769 Day Walk. When Mr Marcello met Pope John Paul 2 in Sep 5 2001, his holiness mentioned to George to pass the torch to the children. At the age of 14 Kristopher had a wish. His wish was to carry the famous Torch Of Life across Canada. On Jan 8 2004, in Kristopher's hometown of Sarnia George passed the Torch to Kris. He carried the Torch throughout 200 cities/towns , while waiting for his beeper to go off indicating that a liver was available for him. The beeper never did go off, but he recruited nearly a million students along the way to become organ and tissue donors. Kristopher will be 19 on April 2009 and is still waiting for a liver transplant and wants to continue in Step By Step's future journeys.
These are the videos that were shown at each of the over 200 schools that he stopped into. JAN 8 2004-DEC 20 IQALUIT NUNAVUT

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STEP BY STEP
ORGAN TRANSPLANT ASSOC.

1st Campaign
Toronto Ottawa Walk
Aug 17 -31 1997

Shortly after recieving a liver transplant George Marcello wanted to say thank you to his donor family. He and his friend Sam Vinci put knapsacks on their backs and starting walking from Toronto to Ottawa, a 400 kilometer trek.