Finding Strength in Shared Journeys: Quinte Organ Transplant Support Group

When Mark Londry pedalled more than 100 kilometres from Rossmore to Kingston this past summer, it wasn't just a physical challenge. It was a statement. A liver transplant recipient himself, Mark understands firsthand the endurance, uncertainty, and hope that define the transplant journey. That understanding is what led him to found the Quinte Organ Transplant Support Group (QOTSG) — a grassroots, volunteer-run organization serving Belleville, Prince Edward County, and west to Port Hope. Mark and his group have one simple yet powerful goal: to ensure that no one in this region has to navigate organ transplantation alone. The need is very real. Across Canada, more than 4,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant, and hundreds will die each year before one becomes available. While most Canadians say they support organ donation, only about 35% are officially registered donors. By comparison, roughly 66% of Americans are registered. That gap matters, Mark says. Every percentage point represents real people waiting — parents, children, neighbours — hoping for a second chance at life. Those real people live right here in Belleville and our communities. In Prince Edward County, transplant recipients and QOTSG members Lauralee Courtney Cowan, a two-time liver transplant recipient, and Beth Law, a pancreas transplant recipient, have been sharing their stories to raise awareness and advocate for support. Both women speak openly about their gratitude for the gift of life and about the challenges that follow surgery: the travel to specialist centres, time away from work, financial strain, and the emotional weight of recovery. Transplant care doesn't end when someone leaves the hospital. For many families in the Quinte region, it means repeated trips to Toronto or Kingston, out-of-pocket expenses for gas, meals, and accommodations, and long periods of uncertainty while waiting for care or an organ. Recovery can be isolating. Waiting can feel overwhelming. That's where QOTSG steps in. The group operates as a fully volunteer-based organization, with no intention of introducing paid roles or salaries. All of this is volunteer-run. One hundred percent of funds raised go directly toward supporting transplant recipients and their families. Whether that's helping to cover travel expenses, hotel accommodations, or easing the financial pressure that comes with long-term medical care. April is recognized nationally as Be a Donor Month, but Mark believes awareness needs to extend far beyond one month. Through storytelling, peer support, and open conversations, QOTSG is working to close the gap between good intentions and real action while offering compassion and connection to those already living the transplant experience. Sometimes, the most powerful support comes from simply knowing someone understands. And sometimes, that understanding can change — or save — a life.