Charles (Chip) Parks

Hometown 
Plymouth, Minnesota 

Connection to donation/transplantation
Received transplanted kidney from my sister (a member of Team Mississippi) in October 2003 at Mayo Clinic.

Competitions/Events at the 2024 Transplant Games of America
Swimming (200 IM, 200 and 500 freestyle, 50 and 100 breaststroke, 50 butterfly)
Golf (Singles and Team)
Volleyball

How many Transplant Games have you attended?
Five (plus virtual Games in 2020)

Why do you participate in the Transplant Games? 
Celebrate the gift of life my sister has bestowed on me and honor her; create publicity for organ donation.

One thing you want others to know about donation.
Organ donation has allowed me to live a normal life for over 20 years. During that time, I have seen my two daughters grow from children (ages 18 and 9 at the time of my transplant) to full adults, seen my older daughter marry, seen my grandson (now age 8) born, traveled to foreign countries with my wife and daughters, traveled to foreign countries to play golf and enjoyed countless experiences with my family and others. During the 20+ years since my transplant, I have continued my 30+ years serving my community as a Rotarian, my 30+ years of service as a board member for a non-profit organization providing housing, health care and community services to older adults and my 40+ year career as an attorney.