Mike McKay

Type of Donation:             Tissue and cornea donor

Age and Location:             Age 23 – Wrightwood, CA

Donation Date:                  January 25, 2008

Sponsor:                               Honored by OneLegacy

MIKE’S STORY

During his short time, Mike McKay “lived life” to the fullest.  A long-time mountain resident, he died at age 23 of injuries sustained in an avalanche.  At the time of his death, Mike was entered into the organ/tissue donor program administered by Donate Life.  Mike’s family and friends received comfort that other people could live longer, fuller lives because of Mike’s precious last gifts.

Mike was a natural outdoor athlete who played AYSO and high school soccer.  As a teenager, he was a sponsored rider for a club mountain bike racing team and later raced for his college cycling team.  He would later also become an accomplished rock climber, surfer and open water swimmer.  However, it was his prowess with skiing where Mike’s talents really shined. He was a graceful, yet acrobatic skier whose style and ‘tricks’ were the focus of promotional extreme sports photo shoots.

Mike’s other passion was in helping others.  He completed his Bachelor’s degree at Northern Arizona University and at the time of his death was enrolled in a Master’s degree School Psychologist program.   He had already completed his EMT Academy while still in high school.

In high school, Mike worked as a ski patroller and his first real job after graduating from NAU was Ski Patrol Program Director for the Mountain High Ski Resort.  At age 22, he was the youngest Patrol Director of any major resort in the US.

Mike moved from the mountains to the beach to attend graduate school, but still wished to be active in the emergency services.  After completing the rigorous San Diego Lifeguard Academy, he was voted “Rookie-of-the-Year” for the Solana Beach Lifeguards.  SBLG later renamed their perpetual trophy after “Mountain Mike” McKay in his memory.

To recognize his zest for life, his family established a “Live Life” Scholarship program for award winners who shared Mike’s attitude towards trying different things while “living life”.   Several other scholarships programs were also later established in his name.  In this way we honor Mike’s way of living life.  Please think of Mike as you live yours.