Rodney Shadie Jr. won’t be at Lifebanc’s Stepping 4 Life Greek Step Show competition at 6 p.m. Saturday, at St. Joseph Family Center, 610 W. Exchange St., Akron.Yet the poignant story of his life, as shared by his grateful parents, Vikki and Rodney of Akron, will be front and center. The Shadies know what it’s like to have been on both the receiving and giving end of a miracle.When Little Rod, as he was called, was 21 months old, he went into liver failure because of a negative reaction to medication.“Within 48 hours of being diagnosed, he was placed on the national organ transplant waiting list and received a lifesaving liver transplant,” said Hadie Bartholomew, a spokeswoman for Lifebanc, which coordinates the organ donation process; educates the public and professionals; works to increase the number of registered organ, eye and tissue donors; and provides bereavement support for donor families.“Little Rod grew up and played just as every other kid, until the seizures returned,” Bartholomew said. He died May 5, 2003, and “when faced with the decision for donation, the Shadie family knew it was the right thing to do,” she said.“Because of his generous gift, another life was saved,” Vikki Shadie said. “His legacy is living on and his heart is now beating and helping someone else live.”The Shadies hope their son’s story will educate other African-Americans about the urgent need and the benefits of organ, eye and tissue donation.So, when sororities and fraternities gather at this popular event, where they will be competing for cash prizes, showing off their fancy footwork, they’ll be encouraged to get the word out about the Shadies’ personal walk to add years to their son’s life, and then to make that decision to help others live.The Shadies are still in contact with the family of the 20-month-old who gave the gift of life to their son.Go to www.lifebanc.org or www.SteppingForLife.com to get tickets or call 216-752-5433. Doors open at 5 p.m. To join the movement, just register to be a donor the next time you renew your driver’s license.Triathlon featBig, beautiful bouquets to Robert Zupke, assistant principal at Akron’s Firestone High School, whose participation at the swim team’s recent triathlon is truly one for the record books.Therese Chadbourne shared the story: “The swimmers swam one mile, ran two miles, then biked 14 miles. What is the big deal about this? “My 16-year-old son, Joe Chadbourne is blind and on the swim team. Mr. Zupke volunteered to run and bike with Joe so the rest of the swimmers could all participate in the race on their own. He met Joe at school at 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 (this is following his daughter’s weekend wedding).“He ran with Joe to Big Bend (part of the Sand Run Metro Park off Merriman Road), then hopped on a tandem bike and he and Joe rode 14 miles. Mr. Zupke is all about the students and this is a true testimonial and one that needs to be recognized.”Joe Chadbourne, who is enjoying his second year on the swim team, has been blind since birth. “He has a genetic blindness called Leber’s congenital amaurosis,” his mother said.Major kudos to Joe as well.Superstar WalkerCongratulations to 7-year-old Jaxson Holder, a student at St. Joseph Catholic Church and the youngest walker to receive Superstar Walker status for raising more than $1,000 in Akron’s recent American Heart Association walk. “His donations totaled $2,079 on the day of the walk,” proud grandmother Laurie Miller said.“Jaxson lost his mom, my daughter Marie ‘Re’ Holder, in January of 2010 to undiagnosed heart disease at the age of 32. Jaxson’s aunt Nichole formed Team Re in memory of her sister, and over the last two years that we have participated in the Heart Walk, our small team has raised almost $12,000.”“I am so proud of Jaxson. He has his mother’s compassion and is learning about giving back. He is already planning for next year and starting to collect aluminum cans, which he did through the summer to raise his own money to donate.”Jaxson’s father, Christopher Holder, may just have a future Superstar Walker in his daughter Mikaela. “She was at the Heart Walk, but at 2›, she strolled,” her grandmother said.Toiletries neededSS. Philip and James Catholic School’s student council in Canal Fulton, in conjunction with WHBC (1480-AM) radio in Canton, is collecting toiletries for the Samaritan’s Table, a nutrition center that serves nearly 350 families from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays in St. John’s Church.“Their weekly guests include the homeless, the lonely, the elderly, the working poor, and the unemployed,” the mission statement reads. “Due to their limited incomes, the majority of those served cannot afford to purchase toiletry items. Paper products and hygiene items cannot be purchased with food stamps, so the volunteers at Samaritan’s Table sort donations to supply a few of these items.” Here is what’s needed: toilet paper, bars of soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, facial tissue, deodorant, hand lotion, razors and shaving cream.Donations may be dropped off at the school, 532 High St., Canal Fulton, through this month.A Taste of ItalyThe Citizens Committee for Children Services is hosting A Taste of Italy dinner and silent/live auction fundraiser at 6 p.m. Friday at Fairlawn Country Club, 200 N. Wheaton Road, Akron.Up for bid are a Man Cave with a smorgasbord of beers from throughout the country; a wine cellar stocked with wines; an iPad 2; themed baskets; golf, restaurant packages; and more. For information, please call 330-379-1918. Tickets are $50 with sponsorships available.Taste of EuropeAkron Woman’s City Club is gearing up for its Taste of Europe wine tasting/food pairing, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 5, with food by the club’s executive chef, Jonathan Matousek, paired with wines selected by sommelier William Schwab.A silent auction with a wonderful stash donated by Winebuys.com also is planned.Cost is $40 and reservations are a must. Please call 330-762-6261. Jane Delcamp is coordinating the auction; please call 330-836-0315.Proceeds go to the club’s projects — providing uniforms, art supplies, holiday food, library books and a girls’ tea time — at nearby Portage Path Community Learning Center. “Portage Path school projects are important to me. I taught first grade there before I moved from Akron 40 years ago,” said event chairwoman Patricia Brown, now of Hudson.Girl Scouts collect foodTeresa Sroka, a Girl Scout leader involved with the Copley-Fairlawn service unit, is planning the celebration of 100 Years of Girl Scouts, 100 Years of Service with a big event from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Summit Mall, which will see troops pledging and completing 100 service projects.Scouts and others are asked to bring nonperishable food items. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is bringing collection bins. Personal hygiene products will be collected for a later presentation to Haven of Rest Ministries.Remember the troopsKudos to Lenny Morella and the South Akron Board of Trade, which raised more than $6,200 to buy and ship items to troops overseas, as well as adopting 10 local families in need for Christmas.The Board of Trade and Regency Office Furniture are collecting the following for its Remember Our Troops This Holiday Season campaign: men’s/women’s deodorant, mouthwash (travel size), ChapStick, shaving cream (travel size), eye and ear drops, bug spray towelettes, duct tape, batteries, long-distance phone cards, socks, undershirts, playing cards, razors and sunscreen. And the following nonperishable food items: tuna, Vienna sausages, sardines (small cans), dry powder drink mixes, peanut butter/jelly (small, no glass jars), any type of canned goods, dried fruit snacks, beef jerky or Slim Jims, microwave popcorn and/or granola bars. For information, please call 330-418-5482 or email lmorella@neo.rr.comJewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.