John Harmon has been an advocate leader for the work of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum and many other wrestling entities in the sport, including his alma mater Lehigh University. The following letter is from one of his close friends and State Chapter colleagues (Frank Mosier) in New Jersey concerning his need for a kidney donor. {Lee Roy Smith}

Dear Wrestling Community:

            John Harmon, a long time loyal and dedicated champion for wrestling has a very serious medical challenge for which he needs “champion” help. I say “champion” because it will require a “gut check” effort to find the individual “champion” willing and able to donate one of their kidneys to John.

Over the past 12 years, I have enjoyed the opportunity to work and get closely acquainted with John Harmon all because of wrestling. In 1997, John and few others of us, started The New Jersey Chapter of The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. If it was not for John Harmon’s leadership and financial support, the Chapter never would have come about. Because of John’s influence, this year the New Jersey Chapter will induct its 10th Class of Honorees drawing an average of 350 plus attendees at each Banquet.

Everyone who knows John would testify that there are few, if any, more worthy humanitarians and philanthropists like John, who have given more to wrestling.  Over the years, John has made very substantial contributions in time, energy,  and money to The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, Board of Governors; and The New Jersey Chapter of The NWHFM, Board of Directors; and Lehigh University and Lehigh University wrestling program; and EIWA Wrestling Newsletter (founder, author, publisher, ) and EIWA Wrestling League; and on and on and on.  John has been more than generous with his substantial time commitments and very significant financial contributions to wrestling!!! John is the definition of a “giver and champion” for wrestling!

John is in need of a kidney donor, immediately! The short definition of a kidney donor is someone in good health, age 60 or younger, and is willing to give up one of their two kidneys. Medically, only one kidney is needed, so giving up one should not be a problem for the donor.  Yes, that is the short line and there is more criteria to filter such as blood type, etc.  

How do we find a willing “champion” donor? Who would be willing to be a donor? Those and other questions stand before us, none of which are easy to answer, but hopefully the right person will step up when presented with this opportunity.

Potential donors should contact HUP (Hospital at University of Pennsylvania) at 1-800-458-2548 and ask for an On Call Coordinator. They will conduct a telephone interview to see if there are any obvious impediments to donation. After that, they will require a complete medical history, and after that, possibly a visit to Philadelphia for blood and tissue matching. Every effort will be made to cover all out of pocket expenses to possible donors!  

This is the challenge! What we need you to do is “get the word out”, spread this message in each and every direction you have available to you.  This is the biggest challenge in finding a donor….the more people we contact, the more likelihood that “champion” will be found.  Let’s spread the word throughout all our wrestling contacts including but not limited to The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum,  its Board members, its Past Honorees, The State Chapter Programs, and every coaches, officials, and local wrestling organizations in your area, etc.  Then, as inquiries surface refer them to me for research and resolution (at fam44@me.com or 973-219-5685).

There are thousands of wrestling fans out there and many know John and many would like to help. If 100 of us share the word with 10 others and each of them talk to 10 and each of them talk to 10...we will likely be successful! We need your support and effort to ask 100  people, to share this with 10 people or more.

Over the past 4 decades, John has been and continues to be a great “champion” for wrestling.  Now, I hope you will “champion” this effort to find a “donor” for John.  Thank you in advance for your generosity of time and effort to “champion” this cause by carrying the banner of hope to “get the word out”. Please do it today!
 

Regards,