AT AN awareness event at a borough supermarket, Wokingham resident Helen Wilson explained how valuable organ donation can be.
Helen was crowned Sports Person of the Year at last November’s inaugural Wokingham Community Awards.
She is also herself a double transplant recipient, and a medallist from the British, European and World Transplant Games in discus, shot and javelin.
She was joined by Katy Portell from NHS Blood and Transplant, and her friend Donna Barrington-Smith, who is also a double transplant recipient and a medallist from British, European and World Transplant Games in archery.
Ms Wilson said:
“It was a great opportunity to spread the word and get people talking about organ donation.
“Having a conversation with family and friends is so important.
“It makes people’s decision regarding organ donation clear, and that helps when the family is making the final decision.
“Signing up to the organ donor register also helps, as it reaffirms people’s decisions rather than just relying on the assumed opt-in now the law has changed.”
At the supermarket, they talked with people about Transplant Sport and the Transplant Games, and were able to engage with 81 people, of whom 21 signed up for the organ donor register on the day or took away information on how to do this when they got home.
“One donor can save up to nine lives by donating their organs, and can improve the lives of up to 50 people by being a tissue donor,” said Ms Wilson.
For more information, visit: www.transplantsport.org.uk, www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk and www.nhsbt.nhs.uk
