NewsChannel5's Andy Baskin honored for commitment to organ donation

CLEVELAND - On the five year anniversary of his brother's death, Andy Baskin and his sister-in-law, Beth, were honored for supporting the cause which helped Bruce Baskin live an additional four months.

Bruce, who was 47 when he passed away, was born with cystic fibrosis and eventually needed a lung transplant to extend his life.

LifeBanc honored the Baskin family for their tireless efforts to spread the word about organ donation and what it has meant to them.

Mervyn Jones, the son of the late Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, was honored last year and presented the award to the Baskins this year.

The keynote speaker at the event was Chris Klug, an Olympic snowboarder who competed in the 2010 Olympics, but won a bronze medal in 2002, less than two years after receiving a liver from an organ donor.

Klug had primary sclerosing cholongitis, or PSC, the same disease East Canton 12-year old Erik Loy battles.

Months ago, Erik's father, Tom, e-mailed Chris to thank him for being an inspiration to his son and that led to the opportunity for Erik to meet Chris at the luncheon.

Erik will eventually need a liver transplant in hopes of curing PSC.