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Minn. Santa Claus Needs A Kidney Donor

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- For more than 37 years, Bruce Price has helped spread happiness to thousands of people by dressing up as Santa Claus. Now, Santa needs a kidney.

WCCO-TV introduced you to Price years ago. Diabetes took one of his legs and he had a wish to be Santa in the Holidazzle parade. That wish came true, but now he hopes our viewers will help give him the ultimate gift, the gift of life.

Price, 54, is also known as HyBeam the Clown, Boff the Clown and Hoppie the Bunnie. He goes to nursing homes, cancer walks -- anywhere a laugh is needed.

Now, however, his appearances are limited because he needs a kidney dialysis stands in the way of doing what he loves most -- making people feel good.

"I like giving. I do everything I can. I'm happy when I make somebody happy," said Price.

With no family, Price needs a stranger to be the one to give him the gift of life.

His clown friends did try to see if they were a match, but had no success.

"It brought tears to my eyes when I heard that they tried. It's a lot … giving up your kidney," said Price.

Price now hopes a WCCO viewer will give him what he needs -- just like they did years ago by making his dream of being Santa in the Holidazzle parade a reality.

Price says he has two very good reasons for wanting to stick around for a little while.

"Not for me so much as for my grandkids, so I can be more with them. My girls are everything -- my granddaughters," said Price.

Price is on the transplant list, but says it may be a four to five year wait for a donor.

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