Friends and family of a man killed in a motorcycle crash came together in Seattle Thursday to celebrate his life – and his gift of life.
Joel Eggert lived in West Seattle and loved music. He also loved riding his motorcycle with the West Seattle Wrecking Crew. But in December 2016, he died after a crash on his bike.
Eggert was an organ donor, and his heart went to Jennie Lawrence, of Anchorage, Alaska.
On Thursday, Lawrence was escorted by his motorcycle club to a bar downtown.
“The wrecking crew gets to have another ride with Joel,” said Kate Oliver, of LifeCenter Northwest. “It’s pretty epic.”
Rhiannon Eggert, Joel’s daughter, was waiting there. The club put together the benefit for LifeCenter Northwest – The Beating Heart. She hugged Lawrence as she arrived.
“I gained more than I could ever imagine,” said Lawrence. “I was sick for years … I wouldn’t change a thing. What I went through was all worth it.”
She said the Eggerts have become like family.
“Good vibes, it’s cool – everyone gets to meet Jennie for the first time,” Rhiannon said.
Donations at the event will go to LifeCenter, a federally designated nonprofit organ procurement organization. They were also hoping to raise awareness for organ donations like Eggert’s.
“It helps so many people, and keeps the person living on after they’ve passed,” said Rhiannon. “It’s a really cool thing.”
“She’s the real living, breathing example of the power of organ donation,” Oliver said of Lawrence. “She’s able to be here with us having a concert, where [Joel’s] heart was. She’s bringing it back to Seattle and the Seattle music scene.”