The Gift of Life - Become an organ donor

In September this year I found out about the competition to become the 20th Battlefront campaigner in a Channel 4 project for young people (aged 14-21) who want to fight for something that they believe in. I knew instantly it was something I wanted to get involved in! I also knew the perfect issue for a campaign - Organ Donation; a subject close to my heart (or should I say kidney) as at this time I had been on the transplant waiting list for a new kidney for over three years. And so my campaign The Gift of Life was born. When I found out I had won the Battlefront competition I was actually in hospital recovering from my kidney transplant!

My Gift of Life campaign will raise awareness about Organ Donation and encourage people to think and do something about it. By educating people, and clearing up common misconceptions about Organ Donation, I hope to get more people to sign up to the Organ Donor Register and potentially save and transform the lives of others like myself.
Did you know that because of the shortage of organ donors in the UK, 1000 people die each year whose lives could have been saved? In 2005 I went on the kidney transplant waiting list after a sudden illness caused kidney failure.  I was kept alive by a dialysis machine which I was attached to 3 times each week, and was put on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.  For many others on the waiting list dialysis isn’t an option – for them an organ transplant is a matter of life and death.

Waiting was tough, however I was lucky and recently received my gift of life. My story has a happy ending but for others this is not always the case as there is still a major shortage of Organ Donors in the UK. I am determined to keep campaigning not only for the people still waiting on the transplant list but for those who have died because their wait was too long, hopefully this campaign will transform and save lives.

Celebrity Support

The Gift of Life Campaign has received support from various celebrities. Here is what they had to say!

Ben Shephard - "Holly it was great to meet you and what a huge result for donor day, your website and challenge is inspirational."

Connie Fisher - “There is a key saying in life, ‘Your health is your Wealth’ and this is certainly the phrase I live by. Organ transplant lists are always growing but with people like Holly launching a national Donor Day hopefully we can raise awareness on a subject that can often be over-looked. Join me and pledge your support by putting your name on the Organ Donor Register. You too could give others the gift of life.”

Nina Wadia - "Give someone a second chance by giving them the gift of life. Put your name on the organ donation register and support Holly's campaign. The gift of Life is a great campaign as it is raising awareness of the shortage of organ donors, it is a subject that young people don't want to think about, but they should as it may affect them."

Alexandra Burke - “It’s so important for people to understand what it means to give something back. Hundreds of people die every year in the UK waiting for a transplant and this is why I am supporting Holly's campaign and encouraging people to sign the organ donor register”

The Prime Minister The Rt Hon Gordon Brown. MP - “I want to give my support and thanks to Holly Shaw and all those involved in her campaign. Joining the organ donation register is a selfless act of kindness which can save many lives and offer new hope for potentially thousands of families across the country.”