Reflecting on 2010

What a year 2010 has been; full of ups and downs, triumphs and tears. We will be closed over the Christmas period from 24th December 2010 till Monday January 10th 2011. Before we go, we look back and reflect at some of the key moments over the last 12 months.


We started the year with a bit of a rollercoaster, where hearts were uplifted when our gorgeous Jess got her call for Transplant just after Christmas. Sadly, 4 and a half years of waiting meant Jess' body was just not strong enough, and our inspirational girl passed away on 12th January 2010. At this time of year, our thoughts are with the donor family who tried to save her life, and with her family, who will be feeling her absence very much this Christmas.

There are so many awareness-raising opportunities we could talk about, including dozens of talks, stands and presentations. 2010 saw more fantastic work from our advocates and our Ambassadors Rachy and Tor , as well as Trustees attending events such as the BTS congress, British Transplant Games and the ETCO conference to name a few. Our media campaigns have continued to expose millions more people to the subject of organ donation, and we're hugely grateful to all those who helped by sharing their life stories with us this year.

Our fabulous fundraisers were also on top form in 2010! From organising cake bakes to running marathons, from a charity single to an entire music festival - thousands of you across the UK did your bit to help us continue raising awareness and saving lives.

Thanks to organ donors like George and their families, hundreds of people like Rich are getting ready to celebrate their first Christmas with a new lease of life and hope for the future. However due to the shortage of donors in the UK, there are around 1000 families like the Barr family who are now preparing for their first Christmas with someone missing; someone whose life could have been saved by a transplant, but who ran out of time.

We are looking forward to 2011 as it brings with it new opportunities to booster organ donation awareness and raise the profile of transplantation and its ability to transform lives. With your support and hard work from all of us, we can get even more people signed up to the organ donor register, increase the number of transplants that take place, and save even more lives.

Wishing all our supporters a wonderful Christmas, and a happy and healthy 2011.

Love from us all,

The LLTGL Team

x

Our Em

If any of you have ever had the chance to hear our Chairman Emily speak about her life then you will know what an inspirational person she is and what an inspirational story she tells.

We at Live Life Then Give Life believe that one method of raising awareness that triumphs above all others is telling a real life story. Emily works constantly and tirelessly to save and improve the lives of people on the transplant waiting list and the way she does this best is by talking (well, are you surprised?) This week she has been on BBC Radio Surrey's breakfast show as part of their life stories section.

Emily's interview has been split into 4 parts with the final part being aired on BBC Surrey tomorrow at 9.40am. The other 3 parts can be heard on IPlayer by following the links below:


Part 1 - 53 Minutes in. - Emily talks about life before transplant, using a wheel chair and trying to hold onto her indpendance while Cystic Fibrosis compromised it.

Part 2 - 1 hour 49 Minutes in. - Emily talks about being given 12months to live, her work for Live Life Then Give Life and life on the transplant waiting list.

Part 3 - 1 hour 49 Minutes in. - Emily talks about life after transplant 4 years on and her future, thanks to her donor.


Well done Emily, you are and continue to be an inspiration to many people and we are so pleased to have you as our Chairman x

Tor's Christmas Wish - campaign update

It's been just 7 days since we launched our Tor's Christmas Wish campaign, and it has already been attracting a huge amount of attention!

People all over facebook have been sharing her story and urging others to do the same. Upon reading her story, Niall Murphy set up this facebook page and donated some advertising space to raise the profile even further - thank you Niall!

Tor says she has had more messages than she can keep up with, and has been completely overwhelmed with the support and kindess from people touched by her story.

The biggest success so far has been on Twitter, where not only have thousands of kind souls been retweeting our messages, but the celebs have been getting involved too! TV presenters Philip Schofield and Ben Shephard, actress Tamzin Outhwaite, Absolute Radio DJ Christian O'Connell, Loose woman Zoe Tyler and actress Sierra Bogess are just some of the big names that have been helping us spread the word. Special mentions to Sarah Brown, Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones who have not only retweeted but have also urged others to do the same and sent messages of support to Tor.

Here are a few of the tweets from those moved by Tor's story that prove that campaigns like this really can make a difference:

"Thanks to you and this very brave young lady I have just registered to donate all my organs for transplant in the event of my death! Thanks for raising awareness !"

" I have just received my donor card, thanks to the Twitter awareness campaign. I hope lots more people take the time to apply."

"Have signed up for organ donation after seeing your xmas wish - best of luck with everything. Hopefully my bits are useful one day!x"

"Read your story tweeted by @DuncanBannatyne Praying that you get your wish lovely lady. My mum helped someone 2 see after her death xxx"

"Have just signed the register. Sending you lots of love and best wishes for Christmas and beyond x"

We want Tor's plea to get as much exposure as possible - could you help us? Do you have a media contact or a celebrity pal that might support Tor and help her Christmas wish come true? Please get in touch if you have an idea at info [at] lltgl.org.uk

Thank you again for all your support.

x

A Gift of a Lifetime

We received this lovely poem from May Thomson, who's been following our Christmas campaign for Victoria Tremlett on Twitter. You too can follow Tor at @tor87 or the campaign #torsxmaswish

A Gift Of A Lifetime

We all have hopes and fears,
Many of them can reduce us to tears,
All reading this once dead are spares,
Our ups and downs of daily life
Imagine needing an Organ to stay alive,

Most of us do not want to consider,
What happens once we are dead?
Think Donate our Organs,
Then others may lead a life,
That’s is full instead of life in bed,

A Heart to Beat, Lungs to Breathe, and Eyes to see,
All can be used after thee,
So carry a card register on the internet,
Then the recipients can get set,

Improved lives free to live,
So please once you are dead,
Your Organs please please give,
Through time of great sadness,
Bring joy to others instead,

In Twitterland @Tor87 has inspired me,
To ask you all your Organs to Donate,
So others live a life active and free,
Please please fulfil her plea,

The soul moves on the body dead,
By Donating parts live on instead,
So bring joy back to these people lives,
Next time might be one of your own,
That needs that vital Organ to survive.

© May Thomson
2010

Tor's Christmas Wish

LLTGL Ambassador Victoria Tremlett is 23 years old. She's beautiful, clever, passionate and ambitious, but her life is currently on hold whilst she waits and hopes for a double lung transplant.

Tor has been waiting for over three and a half years now, and so knows her time is running out fast. She has decided to make a Christmas Wish, and we need you to help it come true. Please read what this incredible lady has to say and spread the word.

"My name is Tor and I'm 23 years old, however unlike most 23 year olds I am waiting for a double lung transplant to save my life. When I was put on the transplant waiting list I was told I had 18months to live, I have now been waiting 3 and 1/2 years, and it doesn't take much to see I am living on borrowed time.

I use oxygen 24/7 to support my failing lungs, a wheelchair to leave the house, the majority of my day is dedicated to medical treatment just to try and keep me stable. The smallest tasks like getting dressed, combing my hair and brushing my teeth leave me absolutely exhausted and my mum has to help me with everything.

My Christmas wish would ultimately be to get the transplant I so desperately need, but due to the shortage of donors, this may not happen. Without a transplant this could be my last Christmas, and so this December, I want to get at least 5000 people to sign the organ donor register, in the hope of saving lives.

50% of people waiting for lungs will die purely because not enough people have signed up to donate after their death. Each of us has the power to change this statistic. I don't know if my call will come but by signing up you will create chances for so many people facing a death sentence.

Please help me achieve my Christmas wish and give me hope, a future and the chance to see next Christmas.

Thank you."

What you can do:

• Sign up! It's quick and simple, just go to http://tinyurl.com/torsxmaswish


• Be proud about the fact you've signed up! Let people know, especially your next of kin.


• Pass the message on. We'd love to help her see 5000 new names on the Organ Donor Register by January 1st but we need you to help spread the word about Tor's Christmas Wish.

On behalf of Tor and everyone else waiting, thank you for your support. It literally could save lives.

Justgiving Awards 2011

Last year, Emily and Matt were lucky enough to attend the first ever Justgiving awards which were held at the RIBA building in London. They had a wonderful time and met and heard about many inspiring individuals who achieve so much through hard work and determination.

Nominations for the 2011 Awards are now open, and you can take a look here! Justgiving say "They're our way of recognising the outstanding individuals, teams and charities who together have helped to raise over £175m for worthy causes this year."

Do you feel we're doing a good job? Maybe you want to nominate LLTGL for one of the categories! And there aren't just awards to recognise the work of charities, individuals who have made outstanding contributions will be featured too.

There are a variety of categories such as youngest fundraiser and the lifetime achievement award that you could nominate someone you know who you think deserves recognition. Why not take a look at all the categories here: http://www.justgivingawards.com/