One Step at a Time: A Letter from the Transplant Trotters
Dear members of the kidney and transplant community,
In March, our team — The Transplant Trotters — crossed the finish line together at the 2026 NYC Half Marathon, running for something far bigger than ourselves.
We are colleagues from the Sanofi US Transplant team, united by a shared mission and deep connection to this community. As we reflect on those 13.1 miles, we want to express our gratitude to the patients, caregivers, donors and advocates who inspired every step.
We ran for you.
Our training, fundraising and race day were all dedicated to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). In our daily work, we chase the miracles of science so that more patients can chase their dreams ― but out on the course, this run was about chasing better, healthier lives for transplant patients and their families.
For many of us, the "why" behind this race is deeply personal:
When Evan’s son was in the second grade, what began as an ordinary day turned into an unexpected late-night emergency, multiple hospital transfers and the discovery of a serious congenital kidney defect. Over several years of tests, repeated procedures and follow-up visits, Evan and his family learned firsthand the strength it takes for families to live through uncertainty and recovery. Today, his son is healthy and thriving as a freshman at the University of South Carolina.
Evan's son, Drew, during his hospital stay after the discovery of a congenital kidney defect in second grade. Today, Drew is healthy and thriving as a freshman at the University of South Carolina — a reminder of the resilience of patients and families in the transplant community.
“This race is personal for me. It reminds me that behind every patient story is a family, a community, and a second chance.” — Evan Newman
"Kidney disease has deeply touched my life through my uncle, who was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at a very young age and spent almost 20 years on dialysis. Watching his long journey shaped my understanding of the challenges patients and families face every day. I ran this race in his honor.” — Unnati Majethia
“I run to honor the resilience I see every day in the transplant community. From bedside nursing to partnering with OPOs and transplant centers, my professional experience has shown me both the heartbreak of loss and the hope of second chances. Running is my way of celebrating that gift and carrying the strength of my patients, donor families, and colleagues with me.” — Jordan Davenport
We ran because the need remains urgent. Today, more than 90,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney transplant. NKF’s decades of leadership — from defining kidney disease to setting global standards and advancing evidence based care — continue to drive real transformation.
Training for a marathon taught us endurance, but it pales beside the transplant journey. This race reminded us that, like life with kidney disease, progress happens one step at a time — and never alone.
To our community: your strength fuels our purpose every day. We’re proud to represent Sanofi’s transplant team— committed to protecting the promise of transplant.
The finish line isn't the end. Talk to your doctor about living kidney donation or register as an organ donor today to help save lives.
We run together — for hope, for health and for every life touched by transplant.
With gratitude,
The Transplant Trotters
Unnati Majethia · Evan Newman · Jordan Davenport · Pauline Tarife · Alexis Moyrand
Sanofi US Transplant Team
Learn more about our mission to protect the promise of transplant here.
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