Fauna 10K aims to save lives, not break records

4/1/2026

When seeing “10K” associated with something, the likely first reaction is that there is a race attached — but not for Reagan Maher and his Fauna Transplant Support group.

Maher, the group’s founder, is hosting the first annual Fauna 10K. His “10K” relates to organ donors, not runners.

Maher faced plenty of challenges on his road to recovery, both before and after his kidney transplant.

“I got the transplant on Nov. 11, 2021. I was on the transplant list for three weeks, which is crazy. I wasn’t ready for it at all. I was supposed to go see my nephrologist to get on dialysis. The same day I got the call — it was an amazing thing that worked out that way — but I had the transplant, and then I had complications for two and a half years. I had CMV, cytomegalovirus, three times, which requires a month’s worth of chemo, antiviral IV each time. And then I had COVID-19 four times in four years,” Maher said.

It was one problem after another for Maher, but that never slowed his desire to progress in his recovery. He named both the group and the 10K after the person he received his kidney from, Fauna.

“I’ve written three letters to my donor’s mom ever since I had the transplant. I just sent one in January. I wanted her to be my guest at ‘Wanna Have a Catch Day,’ just to make it very special. She contacted me this week — it just blew my mind. I cried. She had been following my public Facebook page, saw this, and told me how beautiful this is, and that Fauna would be so, so happy that I’m doing something like this, honoring her,” Maher said. “I just want to show my appreciation for her and Fauna at the ‘Wanna Have a Catch Day,’ so hopefully she comes.”

Eventually, Maher began attending Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, where he started the Fauna Transplant Support group.

“I started that transplant support group on Jan. 6 of this year, and we’ve been growing like crazy. This is a community that Des Moines needed. There’s just nothing like being around somebody who’s had a transplant and meeting somebody else who has gone through the same thing,” Maher said.

It was important for him to start the group because, after the suffering he endured in the years following his transplant, he wanted to ensure others would not have to go through those same battles alone.

“I could not find anything to help. I was home, isolated by myself. I lived alone for two and a half years, and I just had a hard time and couldn’t find any support,” Maher said. “We meet here every two weeks. It’s a community that’s more like a family now.”

The group meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Maher invites speakers, plans themes and encourages discussion among the growing group.

“We’ve got a very chatty group, which is awesome. It’s not hard hosting, because I just ask a question and let them go. Everybody connects so much over what others say. It’s just amazing to watch,” Maher said.

Seeing how successful the group has been, Maher set a new goal — the Fauna 10K. This is not a traditional race heading toward a finish line but an effort to get 10,000 more Iowans signed up as organ donors.

“It would be amazing to hit that 10,000 goal. This is the first annual. When I went over to the Iowa Donor Network, I said, ‘Maybe this could be a thing for next year,’ because April was two months away from when I started, and they were like, ‘Let’s go for it. We’ve got to start somewhere,’ ” Maher said.

Maher said Iowa is already ranked seventh in the nation for registered organ donors, but that is no reason to slow down his efforts.

“I want to do it every year. I don’t know why we don’t do something like this every year, so I took it upon myself,” Maher said. “I’ve struggled with this 10,000 number, but you’ve got to start somewhere, and I think it’s absolutely doable. If we get 500, that’s a huge win. Even if it’s five people, that could save 40 lives. It’s more about impact, education and asking people to step up and help other Iowans.”

Maher said he is grateful for the second chance at life he was given through organ donation. Through countless medical procedures and complications, he has not wavered. He has lost more than 100 pounds, started a transplant support group and is now working to help others in need of an organ donation — just as he once was.

“For two and a half years, I wasn’t living — I was just suffering. It’s amazing just to be back. God changed my heart. I didn’t feel like I was really empathetic my whole life, but that’s changed, and I just want to help people now and support others,” Maher said.

Those interested in learning more about Maher and the group’s mission can visit its Facebook page, Fauna – Transplant Support. ♦