In death, UNC mascot gave gift of life

In death, UNC mascot gave gift of life

Ray's story featured tonight on ESPN

01:41 PM EDT on Tuesday, October 16, 2007

By APRIL BETHEA / The Charlotte Observer

CONCORD, N.C. -- Jason Ray is still touching the lives of others more than six months after his death.

There's the diabetic who spent more than nine years on dialysis. Now, with a new kidney and pancreas, he doesn't have to check his blood sugar and the dialysis treatments have stopped.

Another man had written his own epitaph before Jason's liver gave him another chance.

In all, about 80 people have received an organ or tissue from Ray, the 21-year-old from Concord who performed at UNC Chapel Hill as Rameses, the school mascot. He died after being hit by a car in March in New Jersey where the Tar Heels were playing in the NCAA basketball tournament.

His parents, Charlotte and Emmitt Ray, met some of the organ recipients this summer through a reunion organized by the New Jersey Sharing Network and ESPN.

A feature about Jason Ray's life and his decision to donate his organs is part of a segment set to air tonight on the sports network. "Ray of Hope" will appear during the 7 p.m. debut of E:60.

ESPN.com senior writer Wayne Drehs also wrote a story and helped produce a multimedia package that was published on the Web site on Monday.

Emmitt Ray told the Observer on Monday that meeting people who received a part of his son's body was a heart-wrenching experience.

"It was great to know that Jason had helped them overcome their problems, and as a gift. He didn't know them or what they looked like or what background they came from. (And) He was giving them a gift."

The ESPN pieces also discuss Jason Ray's strong religious faith. The Rays are active members of Concord Christian Church, where Jason Ray was part of the youth group and attended mission trips. He also was involved in the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship while a student at UNC Chapel Hill.

And Ray brought smiles to hundreds of Tar Heel fans as one of three students who suited up as the school's mascot.

Ray was in New Jersey this March for the UNC men's basketball team's NCAA tournament appearance when he was struck by a car while walking to his hotel. He died from his injuries March 26.

Ronald Griffin, who had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy, had seen news reports about the accident. As he headed for surgery to receive Ray's heart, Drehs writes, the doctor said "he couldn't have drawn up a more perfect heart. `If I were you,' the doctor said. `I'd be a Carolina fan.' "

During his reunion with Emmitt and Charlotte Ray, he told Emmitt he'd never forget Jason. "As long as I breathe and I'm here, you're son is still here, too," he said according to the ESPN report.

Jason Ray's passing has attracted an outpouring of support for the Rays, with thousands of people attending his funeral and memorial service. It also drew a large following on the Web, including on the social networking site Facebook.com.

One group on the site, "In Support of Jason Ray," lists more than 2,100 members.

Jessica Holmes, a May UNC graduate and longtime friend of Jason Ray, created that group. On Monday, she said it was nice that the ESPN piece "focuses more on Jason's life and his religion and everything that made Jason who he was."

Holmes helped organize a campus viewing of tonight's ESPN show with the Carolina Athletic Association. She also has invited representatives from Carolina Donors to talk about organ donation.

In the meantime, the Rays also have set up the Jason Kendall Ray Memorial Foundation to help raise money for an endowed scholarship at UNC Chapel Hill and to support other community programs. So far, more than $42,000 has been raised.

It's a way, Emmitt Ray said, to keep Jason Ray's legacy alive even more.

Want to Learn More?

•More information on the Jason Kendall Ray Foundation is available at www.jasonray.org. Donations can be sent to the foundation at : P.O. Box 6326; Concord, NC 28027.

•Learn about local organ donation at www.lifesharecarolinas.org.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-101607-al-unc_mascot.17709eb87.html#