Have you heard about this? A 17-year-old athlete who received a liver transplant is due to defend her 100m gold medal at this year's Transplant Games. Zara Bakri owes her life to a young boy, Daniel Lambton, whose parents donated his organs 10 years ago after he was killed in a road accident whilst on his paper-round. Let the Games begin The British Transplant Games will open at Loughborough Town Square on Thursday 25th August at 7:30pm. Over 600 transplant athletes from across the UK are joining hands to celebrate the gift of life at the opening ceremony. The town will see a parade of participating athletes aged 5-75 coming together to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and to give thanks to the generosity of the families and people who donated their organs to help others live. Organ donor register New figures show that despite nine out of 10 people supporting organ donation, only two out of 10 are on the register. Nearly 6,000 people in the country are currently on a waiting list to receive a life-saving or life-improving transplant. Sadly, last year 400 people died whilst waiting for a transplant, and many others will lose their lives before they even get on to the waiting list. The NHS Organ Donor Register is, quite literally, a lifesaver. The confidential, computerised database records the wishes of people who have decided that after their death, they want to leave a legacy of life for others. Become a donor Even if your name is on the register, your relatives will still be asked to give consent before you could become a donor - that's why it is so important for people to discuss their wishes with their family. Forms to join the register are available by calling 0845 60 60 400 (lines are open: 07:00 – 23:00) or by visiting the UK Transplant website www.uktransplant.org.uk To find out more information about the Transplant Sports Association of Great Britain, please visit www.tsagb.org. Are you a donor? Do you know anyone whos life has been transformed from recieving a donor transplant?
