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Drive for Five Network

Share your spare, Save a life, Leave a priceless Legacy
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Inspire

Recruit 5,000 live organ donors for kidney, liver and bone marrow recipients

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Advocate

Advocate for innovative legislative policy at the state and federal levels encouraging more live organ donations

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Educate

Help an equal number of Americans avoid falling into kidney disease

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  • Recruit 5,000 live organ donors for kidney, liver and bone marrow recipients
  • Advocate for innovative legislative policy at the state and federal levels encouraging more live organ donations
  • Help an equal number of Americans avoid falling into kidney disease
Friends of Drive for Five Network

Who Are we?


Drive for Five Network

The Drive for Five Network was inspired by friends of Mark McIntosh challenging the former Denver TV sportscaster, motivational speaker/author and community advocate to use his professional communication skills and large social media presence to raise awareness to America's growing kidney crisis.

The DFF Network of ambassadors creates educational and inspirational content and has three main objectives with this public awareness campaign:

our ambassadors
Mark McIntosh AND Randy Weber

what's the news?


Our Story in the Media

The Drive for Five Network has received much appreciated reporting from several media outlets willing to raise awareness to the mission of inspiring more live organ donations, advocate for better state and national policies encouraging more participation and educating Americans about its growing kidney crisis. Here are a few examples.

our news articles

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15 hours ago

Drive for Five
One year from today, the Transplant Life Foundation's wonderful six-day sports festival commences in Denver. Yay us.A powerful celebration of life, education about donation and inspiration about physical, emotional and social wellness. A genuine "Feel Good" moment for the Centennial State as it celebrates its 150th birthday.This much we know well in advance. Many lives will be saved in Colorado, the Rocky Mountain region and nationwide. It's a fact. Since the games began their bi-annual run in 1990? In the area hosting the competitions and special programs? There's a pronouncement "bump" in others registering to become a donor. The games inspire folks to take action, share their spares and save lives like Cathie Hitchcock did mine. The games will also promote better wellness of mind, body and spirit.Celebrating life and saving lives, perhaps our own. Let the games begin!www.transplantgamesofamerica.org ... See MoreSee Less
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3 days ago

Drive for Five
It's June 16th of 2025. In exactly one year and two days guess what's happening? It's the first day of a six-day sports festival coming to Denver that's considered, "The Greatest Celebration of Life in the World."What the heck? Yes, the Transplant Life Foundation's bi-annual event, for the first time, is coming to Colorado. Drive for Fiveis blessed beyond measure to be working with many transplant-world warriors and civic leaders in welcoming 12,000 visitors to the Centennial State, Mile High City and other beautiful sites. Colorado's celebrating its 150th anniversary as the nation honors 250. It's why Colorado is known as the "Centennial State."Anyway, I can see the first day. Donors, recipients, family members of deceased donors, medical professionals and other enthusiasts descend upon our city. We welcome them with open arms and shout, "Welcome to the Mile High City and beyond." Folks get registered, acclimate to the altitude and soak in an experience celebrating life, educating about organ, eye, tissue and bone marrow donations and inspiring Americans to improve their physical, emotional and social wellness. Celebrate life, harmony and saving lives. Maybe our own through better fitness.Tennis is the only sport on the calendar for day one. However, that evening? It's pub trivia. Yes, it's a sport at the Transplant Games. 20 events, some public, from rigorous to this. 4,000 compete for gold, silver and bronze. Cool.What's really cool? The host of the "Pub Trivia" competition will be Gregg Farber. This great dude donated a kidney to his legendary father Steve Farber 20 years ago. It inspired the Farber family and friends to create the American Transplant Foundation. This Denver-based non profit believes every transplant recipient deserves financial peace of mind during their recovery. Critical service. Many recovering from transplants financially can be devastated because of no, or poor, insurance and job instability. ATF's been serving this population for 20 years. Bravo.A little more than a year from now? Here come the games. Past participants say, "Mark, it's the most inspirational thing I've ever experienced." Can't wait.Wanna get involved? Volunteer? Participate? Here ya go: lnkd.in/gsnbSJZR.Sponsor? That's me.Considering the current chaos? Our city, state and nation need a feel good moment or two or three. To the best of the host committee's efforts, this will be that. As the late HOF football coach Bill McCartney used to say, "You can hang your hat and take it to the bank!hashtag#dtga26 ... See MoreSee Less
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7 days ago

Drive for Five
One year ago today Cathie Hitchcock shared her spare kidney during an operation at AdventHealth Colorado's Porter Transplant Institute. Excellent medical care and the Pueblo West's generous soul gave me a whole new lease on life.I'll never forget the first time we met in person. Hugging the former school bus driver for special needs children? Realizing a piece of her lies in my lower abdomen and offers a second chance at serving others?It's still difficult to find the right words to express the gratitude within my heart and soul. The huge sports fan is an angel in my midst. BLESS YOU Cathie Hitchcock! ... See MoreSee Less
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mark inspiring

Inspire


The Drive for Five Network was birthed in Mark McIntosh’s weekly men’s fellowship group. When the bunch learned one of their members needed a kidney transplant, the fellas challenged McIntosh. “Given your communications skills and social media following? Go find 5,000!” The challenge was accepted.

The Missouri native and other DFF Network correspondents create content - writing and videos - designed to inspire Americans to “Share their spare, safe a life, leave a priceless legacy.” As managing editor of DFF, McIntosh writes a weekly column published Mondays extolling the need and benefits to live organ donation. America has a growing kidney crisis with far more citizens in need of organ transplants and dying while waiting on lists.

mark testifying

Advocate


The Drive For Five Network is actively involved in advocacy to develop and pass smart legislative policies at the state and federal levels encouraging greater participation in live organ donation. There’s 90,000 Americans on waits lists but only about 27,000 deceased and live organ donors annually. And it’s getting worse. The DFF Network strongly advocates for modifying NOTA.

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EDUCATE


As mentioned before, America’s in the throes of an ever-increasing kidney crisis. Type 2 diabetes has TRIPLED since the turn of the century. Diabetes, high blood pressure and excessive weight? They are kidney killers. Communities of color are disproportionally effected. For example, Blacks are SIX times more likely to suffer high blood pressure than Whites. Three times more likely to suffer kidney disease. The Brown community is also more vulnerable.

The DFF Network is dedicated to working with leaders of communities of color and educating the masses on wellness and lifestyle choices to keep diabetes, high blood pressure and excessive weight gain at bay. Today, 550,000 Americans are on dialysis but the number is expected to reach 1,000,000 in the next six years. Our nation is out of shape and the cost in lives and livelihoods are devastating unless you play the market and invest in the renal care industry. Unfortunately, it’s good and getter better.

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