Janine Marquardson–Educating Others On Organ Donation

Cottonwood Heights, Utah (MMD Newswire) April 19, 2010 — Janine Marquardson, 42, of Cottonwood Heights, Utah, was crowned Mrs. Utah International this month and will go on to compete for the title of Mrs. International 2010 during the final competition in Chicago, July 13-17, 2010.

Janine Marquardson is the mother to three children and works as a district merchant in the retail industry. She is also an active community volunteer with numerous organizations, including Intermountain Donor Service, Donate Life and the National Kidney Foundation. The platform she will promote during her reign as Mrs. Utah International is Organ Donation.  Donate Life America is a national organization that promotes and encourages organ, eye and tissue donation.

The cause is near to Mrs Marquardson as she donated a kidney to her brother in 2002, allowing him to now live a healthy life.

“I am so proud to be representing the great state of Utah, Intermountain Donor Services, Donate Life and the National Kidney Foundation as Mrs. Utah International 2010. 8 years ago my family experienced a miracle. We knew nothing of kidney disease or transplants. It was a new realm to us. We then found out how wonderful it can be. We received a call from the hospital that my older brother Troy, a 37 year healthy man with no history of any illness, was in renal failure. So began the days of total fear, anxiety, and waiting. The following months were filled with so many ups and downs. He began months of dialysis three times a week until a transplant could be done. For me it was never a question about if I was willing to gift him a kidney, it was the waiting that was hard. Praying that I was a match and that we could get this done in time. I remember my three young boys being anxious about me having surgery and no longer having two kidneys. My response to them always has been “God has given us two kidneys so that if needed we have the ability to gift the other to someone else who may need it.” On April 12th 2002 I was part of a miracle. My life has been blessed every day since. My brother continues to do extremely well with our kidney. As for me, my health has never been better. Throughout my year as Mrs. Utah I look forward to sharing my story to educate and encourage people to become organ donors and to become part of the Miracle of Life.”

In addition to each contestant’s charitable platform, International Pageants, Inc. supports the National Heart Association’s Go Red for Women program through volunteer and financial support. The Go Red for Women movement is dedicated to fighting heart disease among women.

The Mrs. International Pageant is owned and operated by International Pageants, Inc., which also operates Miss International and Miss Teen International pageants. It is the only platform-based pageant system dedicated to highlighting women’s accomplishments through community support.

Mrs. International showcases married women 21 to 56 years old and features three categories of competition, including interview, evening gown and fitness wear.

For more information, visit www.mrsutahinternational2010.wordpress.com or www.mrsinternational.com