LIVEr Champion
Meet Our 2026 National LIVEr Champion: Damian Delaney
Priest, teacher, marathoner, and non‑directed living donor, Damian Delaney shows what’s possible when compassion and endurance come together. After donating 60% of his liver to a stranger in 2018, he returned to distance running stronger than ever. This year, he’s running with American Liver Foundation’s (ALF) Liver Life Challenge® Team ALF at the Boston Marathon to raise awareness about non-directed living liver donation and inspire others to become donors themselves.
A decision to give—then keep giving
Born in England and raised in Portland, Oregon, Damian has spent more than two decades teaching at a high school in Los Angeles. A lifelong athlete, Damian first explored living donation when a friend and fellow runner needed a liver transplant, but when that surgery was no longer needed, Damian asked to remain on the registry as a non‑directed living donor.
In September 2018, USC Keck Hospital called – he was a match for a woman with severe autoimmune hepatitis. Damian said yes. On December 12, 2018, surgeons removed over 60% of his liver to be transplanted to the recipient. He had never met her, but he generously gave her life. Months later, they met and forged a bond, “like family.”
“It’s an amazing feeling to know that you are giving another person the gift of health, which is priceless.” — Damian Delaney
Back to the start line—stronger than ever
During recovery, Damian set an audacious goal – complete a marathon and an ultramarathon within one year after surgery. Four months later, he finished a marathon; six months after that, he completed his first 100‑mile ultramarathon. Since then, Damian has finished ten 100‑mile ultras and the 220‑mile Race Across Scotland—living proof that donating an organ doesn’t mean stepping back from life, it can mean leaning in.
A lifelong dream: Boston with Team ALF
Running the Boston Marathon has long been Damian’s dream. In April, he’ll toe the line with Team ALF, raising $10,000 to power cutting-edge research, education, support services, and lifesaving initiatives such as the ALF Living Donor Network™—the first national database connecting generous, non-directed liver donors with transplant centers across the U.S.
Damian’s hope is simple and bold: inspire more people to learn about, talk about, and consider living organ donation.
“My deepest desire now is to inspire others to consider donating part of their liver to help save the lives of those in need.” — Damian Delaney
From the classroom to the marathon course, Damian shows how one person’s choice can ripple into thousands of lives. Visit Damian’s Boston Marathon project page to learn more about his journey and support his fundraising efforts.