From night shift pedalling to a heart-shaped cycle ride, 35 degree runs in Turkey to a local dog walk, colleagues across our sites have been quite literally putting in the miles this week to raise the profile of organ donation.
Around 7,000 people in the UK are waiting for a donor on the transplant list. So during NHS Organ Donation week the #Race4Recipients challenge pits different Trusts, and regions, against each other in a bid to raise awareness and help individuals and families make informed choices.
The NCA is represented by two teams, one representing Salford Care Organisation and the other combining the might of Bury, Oldham and Rochdale. The battle is inspiring great acts of togetherness and creativity, with some colleagues pedalling away their breaks during the wee small hours, and one patient determined to count their rehab steps towards the total.
In 2021 a last minute push saw the ‘NCA’ team sprint into third place. But at time of writing they’re going one better in second place, with Salford Care Organisation in fourth place, all helping the North West stride out as the leading region. You can track their progress on the Race4Recipients website.
Dr Chris Booth, ICU Consultant at Salford Royal, explains why the challenge means so much to him:
“We’re trying to reach 7,000km as a hospital to mark the 7,000 people waiting for a donor on the transplant list and 50,000km as a region to represent the 50,000 living in the UK today with an organ transplant.
“In my job in ICU I often have to speak to families at the end of someone’s life, and one of the things we discuss (with our Specialist Nurses in Organ Donation leading the conversation) is organ donation. It is always so much easier for the families to support the decision if they know what their loved one would want - to be a donor or not.
“So have the chat tonight - what would you want? Tell your family and register your decision, yes or no, at www.organdonation.nhs.uk.”
Photo: Chris's dog Otis