Hazlet Woman’s Legacy Lives on Through Organ and Tissue Donation and a 5K Team Led by Her Sister
(Hazlet, NJ) – The NJ Sharing Network 5K Celebration of Life on May 17 in Ocean Grove will hold special meaning for Amy Beagan and her family as they walk and run in honor of her sister, Lisa Marie Beverly - a devoted ICU nurse and organ and tissue donor whose selfless legacy continues to inspire others.
Lisa, 40, passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Jersey Shore University Hospital, but her compassionate spirit lives on through the lives she saved as an organ and tissue donor. Her liver saved a 61-year-old woman, her kidneys saved a 31-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, and her corneas restored sight for two people.
“Lisa always had a heart for helping others. She became a nurse because she wanted to make a difference, and even when she was gone, she still found a way to help,” said Amy. “Organ and tissue donation was something Lisa believed in deeply. I’m grateful she made that decision. It gave us comfort knowing she helped give life to others. The 5K Celebration of Life is one of the most powerful ways that we honor her memory.”
Lisa’s professional career began at the Charles E. Gregory School of Nursing. She went on to serve in the ICU at Bayshore Medical Center, where she was known for always remaining calm under pressure and her unwavering commitment to her patients. Outside the hospital, Lisa was a registered organ and tissue donor and proudly displayed the Donate Life license plate on her car — a symbol of her passionate advocacy.
Lisa is survived by her cherished daughter, Jaidyn Marie Honan, and her loving parents, Thomas and Diane (Hriczko) Beverly, who continue to honor her memory alongside Amy. At the request of Jaidyn, Amy became captain of the “Lisa’s Butterflies” 5K team, which has participated in NJ Sharing Network’s Ocean Grove 5K for the past three years. The team, made up of family and friends, raised approximately $1,200 last year and continues to grow in size and spirit.
“Blue and butterflies — Lisa’s favorite color and symbol — now adorn our team’s 5K gear in tribute to her vibrant personality and the life she lived in service to others,” said Amy.
NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life Walk and USATF Certified Races will be held on Saturday, May 17, in Ocean Grove, and on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in New Providence, NJ. The Ocean Grove 5K is presented by MTF Biologics, and the New Providence 5K is presented by RWJBarnabas Health.
NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life is one of the Garden State’s largest and most-recognized charitable events. For 15 years, NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life has brought together thousands of transplant recipients, donor families, living donors and dedicated volunteers and advocates. Funds raised by event participants, teams, sponsors, and contributors will support the Sharing Network Foundation, which is committed to increasing the number of lives saved through clinical advancement, family support, public awareness and education.
To sign up to participate in the 5K Celebration of Life or contribute to a team, visit www.SharingNetworkFoundation.org/5K.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), over 100,000 Americans are wai?ng for a lifesaving organ transplant, with nearly 4,000 of them in New Jersey. One organ and ?ssue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others. While the opportunity to give the gi? of life is rare, it’s a truly precious one. Less than 1% of all deaths meet the specific medical criteria to become an organ donor, which highlights the importance of encouraging more people to register as donors. Every new donor registra?on brings hope, helping to save and enhance lives. For more information on organ and tissue donation or to register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
PHOTO CAPTION – Members of the Lisa’s Butterflies 5K team at NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life event in May 2024 (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)
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