The mission of the Laura Hart Burdick Foundation is to provide social support and financial assistance to lung transplant patients at St. Joseph’s Norton Thoracic Institute in Phoenix and to increase organ donor awareness so that every candidate for transplant might receive “the gift of life”.

In Celebration of the Life of Laura Hart Burdick 1972 – 2005

The Laura Hart Burdick Foundation was created in celebration of the life of our beloved daughter, wife, sister and friend who died in 2005 at the age of 33.

Laura successfully battled leukemia as a college student but later found that her lungs had been damaged during treatment.  Her only option was a lung transplant.  She underwent transplant surgery at Stanford University Medical Center in January 2003.  In April, she returned to Arizona to live and thrive with her “gift of life”.  In September 2005, Laura died from complications of an infection.

During her transplant experience, Laura identified needs for additional services that could reduce some of the challenges that transplant patients and their families face during their illness, surgery and recuperation.  It was her desire to help provide such services to her fellow organ recipients.  When St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix introduced its new lung transplant program in 2007, the board of Laura’s Foundation recognized it as an opportunity to fulfill Laura’s aspirations.

In 2008, St. Joseph Hospital’s Center for Thoracic Transplantation, now known as the Norton Thoracic Institute, requested that Laura’s Foundation help fund its programs that offer social and financial assistance to lung transplant patients and their families. The Annual “Laura’s Run” supports that effort with a 5k Run, 1 Mile “Fun Walk” and Doggie Trot – your dog can run or walk with you! All registrants receive a custom t-shirt and medal.  It’s a fun morning for the whole family!