East London Rugby Club’s ladies team the Vixens pledged to help save lives by supporting Organ Donation Week.
The national NHS campaign asked people to talk to their families about organ donation to increase the number of people whose lives can be saved or transformed by an organ transplant.
There are 55 people in the London borough of Newham, where the club is based, on the transplant waiting list in need of an organ. There are 56,780 Newham residents already on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
People need to tell their family they want to donate. Families will always be approached about donation and knowing what their loved one wanted may support their decision at a difficult time.
Vixens captain Ciara Baxter said: “Only 16.3% of adults in Newham have registered to donate organs in the event of their death. Sadly, many opportunities are lost every year because families don’t know if their loved one wanted to be a donor or not. We can change things because there is no better feeling than giving something that may save a life.”
Anthony Clarkson, Interim Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant said: “We are very grateful to East London RFC and the Vixens for supporting Organ Donation Week. Words save lives. Please, tell your family you want to save lives through organ donation, because it could be the difference between life and death for someone else.”
If you want to join the NHS Organ Donor Register, join at www.organdonation.nhs.uk