Colin Lepley has played competitive sports since he was four years old. Based on his excellent playing during his junior year of high school, his football coaches believed he would beat all records the next year. But, while playing baseball, he injured his knee sliding into second base and needed an allograft tissue transplant to repair it. Colin was devastated, but knew he needed the transplant if he was to have any hope of playing sports again. His surgery was January 24, 2013. Colin now plans on being a donor, which is something he had never considered. Inspired by his donor's gift, Colin plans to go into the physical therapy field so that he can help others to heal. Colin has expressed his deep gratitude to Dorothy Beckman, the mother of his donor, Mike Erickson, who is being honored with a floragraph on the 2015 Donate Life Float.

Colin's Story

Colin Lepley has played competitive sports since he was four years old and while he enjoys most of them, his favorite is football. During his junior year of high school, he ran for over 1,200 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. Colin couldn't wait for his senior year to beat all of the records which his coaches predicted he could do. But that did not happen.

While playing baseball during his junior year, Colin injured his knee sliding into second base. He felt something was wrong right away but continued playing, finished the game and went on to continue the remainder of the season. The day after his last baseball game of the year, Colin could not get out of bed because his knee had locked and he could not bend it.

Colin was told that his knee could be repaired by removing 50 percent of the weight bearing in that knee which would then be replaced with allograft tissue. He was devastated, but knew he needed the transplant if he was to have any hope of playing sports again. His surgery was January 24, 2013.

"Thanks to my donor, I will be able to function normally in my daily life and live without the pain," Colin said. "I have truly been blessed and even though I did not have my dream senior year, I have learned a more important lesson in life. I will be able to function normally again and will not take that for granted."

Colin also says that he plans on being a donor which is something he had never thought of before he needed help himself and "realized how special it is to receive a gift that is so important." Colin has been so inspired by his donor's gift that he now plans to go into the physical therapy field so that he can help others to heal.

Colin has expressed his deep gratitude to Dorothy Beckman, the mother of his donor, Mike Erickson, who is being honored with a floragraph on the 2015 Donate Life Float.