By The Church in Wales

[Click here to hear Dr Rowan Williams' poem in support of the fleshandblood campaign]

The Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Davies, is calling on people to register together at the end of National Transplant Week (July 8-14) to help boost organ donor numbers and help save the lives of others waiting for transplants.

By simply texting FAB ORGAN to 62323 on Sunday, people can sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register immediately or ask for a call back to discuss organ donation further.

The nationwide text appeal is organised by the fleshandblood campaign, a joint NHS and church initiative supported by the Church in Wales. Bishop John’s wife Jo, is a specialist nurse in organ donation who is spending this week cycling 330 miles between Welsh hospitals to highlight the appeal.

Bishop John said, “Registering as an organ donor, like making a will, is one of those many things most people plan to do one day but never get round to it. So let’s make a real effort this Sunday and register together with a simple text which may one day save someone’s life.”

Meanwhile new research conducted as part of the fleshandblood campaign suggests Christians in the UK are above average when it comes to choosing to donate their organs. While 31% of the UK population overall have joined the NHS Organ Donor Register, 48% of the Christians surveyed said they had signed up. As the campaign continues to raise the profile of organ donation within the UK Church it is hoped that many more registrations will follow.

Every day 400 units of blood are needed in Wales to meet hospital demand, with approximately 12,000 extra blood donors needed each year to maintain consistency. More than 1,000 people die each year in the UK waiting for an organ transplant. The Church, which has a long history of giving and generosity, is ideally placed to raise awareness and help to meet the need for blood and organ donation in Wales.

Sponsored by Give.net and in association with church denominations, the fleshandblood campaign marks the first time the NHS has worked alongside the church on a national initiative of this kind.

This unique campaign seeks to equip individuals and churches as advocates for blood and organ donation enabling them to raise awareness of this key issue with their family, friends and community and potentially help to save thousands of lives each year. 

For more information, see http://fleshandblood.org/transplantweek

www.fleshandblood.org is a hub of free resources, stories and media: providing information and practical ideas for churches and communities to engage with the campaign.