VICTORIA — A British Columbia woman who donated one of her kidneys to her mother has embarked on a cross-Canada bike ride to raise awareness and funds for organ transplants.
Eileen Zheng and her mother, Wei, attended a ceremony at the B.C. legislature Monday to mark the start of Eileen's Gift From Within ride from Victoria to St. John's, N.L.
Twenty-eight-year-old Eileen Zheng says both she and her mother are living healthy lives after the transplant operation last year.
She says there are more than 4,500 people across Canada waiting for an organ transplant, highlighting the need for more Canadians sign up as donors.
Zheng says it took her several years to convince her mother she could donate one of her kidneys without compromising her own health.
Politicians from both sides of the legislature, including Health Minister Terry Lake and New Democrat Adrian Dix, who represents the Vancouver riding where the Zhengs live, cheered on Zheng as she started her marathon ride.
