Elite athlete raises awareness for tissue donation

An elite athlete, former model and mining engineer spent the day in Philadelphia raising awareness about tissue donation, a cause that saved her life.

More than 65% of Turia Pitt's body was burned when a freak firestorm trapped her in the Australian outback.

Physicians struggled to save her life because at the time no donated skin was available in Australia.

So they turned to the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation.

16 Americans, including donors from the Philadelphia area, helped save her life.

On Tuesday, she shared her story with employees and supporters of the Gift of Life Donor Program.

Turia's amazing recovery has allowed her to reclaim her elite status as an athlete.

She has even completed an IronMan race in Hawaii.