Football League Clubs On The Ball With Life-Saving Message, UK
The appeal, backed by The Football League itself, coincides with the 40th anniversary of the UK's first heart transplant which took place on 3 May, 1968.
The Football League, celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, has contacted all 72 Championship, League 1 and League 2 clubs inviting them to highlight the importance of the ODR to supporters at their final home game of the season.
To date, 69 clubs have indicated their support for the campaign. Match-day activity may includean advertisement in the programme, the organ donation logo on the programme front cover, big-screen promotion at the game, announcements over the public address system, posters, website promotion and links to the NHS Organ Donor Register.
The organ donation message will also be feature on the giant Wembley screens at the Championship, League 1 and League 2 play-off finals at the end of May.
Supporters will be able to join the ODR during games by texting the word 'GIVE' to 84118 from their mobile phone (standard text rates apply). The aim is to boost the number of people signing up to the ODR, a confidential database of over 15.2 million people who have pledged to help give the gift of life to others after their own death.
Over 9,000 people currently need a transplant to save or dramatically improve their lives. More than 3,000 transplants were carried out last year, but around 1,000 people die every year before receiving the transplant they need. If more people joined the ODR, more lives could be saved.
Lord Mawhinney, Chairman of The Football League, said: "I believe that our game can play a significant part in delivering new registrations to the NHS Organ Donor Register. Through The Football League club network, we have the power to reach out together to supporters across the country with a powerful and compelling case for their support.
"I am pleased to support this worthwhile initiative and invite all our member clubs to help to make a positive difference to the lives of literally thousands of people across the UK. Football has a unique part to play in making this happen."
Tamsin May, UK Transplant's Marketing and Campaigns Manager, said: "We welcome The Football League's support in helping to spread the message that transplants save thousands of lives every year thanks to the generosity of individual organ donors and their families.
"For clubs involved in promotion or relegation battles, I know it will be a tense time for supporters - but hope they will still be able to think about the literally life-and-death issue of organ donation."
As well as texting, fans can also join the ODR by visiting http://www.uktransplant.org.uk.
Notes
- Formed in 1888 by its 12 founder members, The Football League is the world's original football competition and is the template for leagues throughout the world.
- With 72 member clubs, it is also the largest single body of professional clubs in European football and is responsible for administering and regulating the Coca-Cola Football League, Carling Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy, as well as reserve and youth football.
- The NHS Organ Donor Register is a confidential database operated by UK Transplant that contains the names of more than 15.1 million people who wish to pass on the gift of life through organ donation after their death. This figure represents approximately 25% of the total UK population. The register can be accessed by authorised medical staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to establish an individual's wishes for donation.
- The Human Tissue Act 2004 makes clear that the wishes of the deceased must be put first and where an individual has expressed a wish to donate by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register, carrying a donor card or verbally or in writing to a friend or family member, NHS staff will do all they can to ensure those wishes are fulfilled.
- More than 9,000 people in the UK need an organ transplant to save or dramatically improve their lives but the shortage of donors means that just 3,000 transplants can be performed each year. Each year, around 1,000 patients die while waiting for a transplant.
- UK Transplant is the NHS organisation responsible for matching and allocating donated organs. It is part of NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), a Special Health Authority within the NHS that manages the National Blood Service, Bio Products Laboratory, and UK Transplant.
UK Transplant
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