Athlete Profile: Eric Walano

Eric Walano is the youngest of four brothers in a family that encouraged going outside, being athletic, and playing sports. His mother and brothers were all collegiate swimmers, and Eric played Division 1 soccer at Fordham. He has always loved pushing himself to be the best he can be physically. After his kidney donation, he was told he might have some physical limitations. He disagreed. The year after he donated, he ran a marathon in 3:29, proving he could continue being at the top of his game. He heard about the Donor Games through the Kidney Donor Athletes, and placed second in his first event, the 3 RM Bench Press. In his next event, the Balanced Craw, he won first place and set a Donor Games record.

Donor Story: Eric donated a kidney in 2018 as an altruistic donor, starting a chain that enabled seven people to receive kidney transplants. About six months after his donation, he was able to meet the rest of the chain, including his recipient, with whom he is still in touch. PBS did a story on the kidney chain. After his donation, Eric co-founded the annual JT Vicci H4E scholarship at Cranford High School, which is awarded to seniors promoting organ donation awareness. 

Personal: Eric lives in Cranford, New Jersey, with his wife Brooke, their daughter Lyla, and their dog Rocco. They will welcome their second daughter in August.