British Transplant Games set to boost donor register
The 2009 Westfield Health British Transplant Games are aiming to inspire the people of Coventry and Warwickshire to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Twenty-five per cent of the area’s population are already registered organ donors and Transplant Sport UK (TSUK), organisers of the Games, are hoping that a further 19,000 residents will join the donor register by the end of September.
The British Transplant Games, one of the biggest annual multi-sports events in the UK, will take place at venues across Coventry between July 30 and August 2.
Almost 1,000 recipients of life-saving organ transplants, aged between two and 82, will be taking part in the Games, with more than 2,000 of their supporters cheering them on.
The aim of the Games is to encourage transplant patients to regain fitness, demonstrate the benefits of organ transplantation and, most importantly, raise awareness of the need for more people to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and discuss their wishes with their families.
There are currently 500 people in the West Midlands who need an organ transplant and 10,000 people across the UK. Tragically, a severe shortage of donor organs means that as many as one in three people on the waiting list are likely to die before having a life-saving operation.
Westfield Health Chairman Graham Moore said: “The Games provide a real showcase of the benefits of organ donation and are an inspiration to us all.
“They are a great way to raise awareness of the need for organ donation and prove that transplantees can lead normal and active lives after their transplant.
“I carry a donor card myself and would encourage everyone to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register. To actively save a life is a tremendous thing to do and I’m sure the region will respond.”
The Coventry campaign began at the launch of the Games in November last year, and already more than 4,000 have signed up to the register.
To find out how to join the NHS Organ Donor Register, call 0845 60 60 400 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk to register online. For more information about the British Transplant Games, visit www.transplantsport.org.uk
© Westfield Health Insurance | 2009
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