Midlands Teen Gives Life, Honored in Rose Parade

After 19-year-old Jesse Gamble died when he was hit by a drunk driver while riding his bicycle across the Blossom Street bridge in West Columbia, seven of his organs were donated so others could live. Bike paths along the bridge now bear his name. Tuesday, he lives on in a whole new way. The face of Jesse Gamble, represented in a one of a kind floragraph, will join the faces of 72 other donors. The art pieces will be featured on the Donate Life Float in the annual, nationally televised, Rose Parade. As the parade is known for ringing in the New Year, Jesse will be honored for bringing new life to seven people who received his organs after he was killed by a drunk driver in 2008. He was riding his bicycle across on the Blossom Street bridge when he was hit. His mother, Lynn Finley, keeps in touch with three of the donors who all say they are grateful for her son’s sacrifice. As Jesse’s family prepares to travel to California in January to see the their son’s floragraph on the Donate Life float, they hope to make people more aware of tissue and organ donation. In 2010, 118 people became organ donors in South Carolina at their deaths and helped saved 406 lives. The Donate Life Rose Parade float is a campaign to inspire people organ, eye and tissue donors. This year’s float is entitled ‘One More Day’ as a way to give donor families one more day in remembrance and celebration of their loved ones. For more information on organ and tissue donation, visit www.every11minutes.org.