Amazing Andrea

Andrea is a very modest and unassuming young lady who just gets on with things When Andrea was 16 years old, she contracted Meningitis, resulting in her being hospitalised for over nine months, requiring a double amputation of her lower legs and going into kidney failure.

Andrea was placed on the waiting list for a new kidney and got her life-changing call on Christmas day in 2003.

To read more about Andreas story click here, but the reason we are writing this blog is to say goodbye to Andrea.... She has been an advocate since 2007 and has worked tirelessly to encourage people to sign the Organ Donor Register, but now she is going on a new adventure! Andrea is moving to New Zealand with her Kiwi boyfriend Mike.

Andrea was our liaison for the Welsh campaigns we work along side, such as Donate Wales. She is a regular in the Welsh press and initiated our campaign encouraging people to contact their local cinema's and ask them to stock Organ Donation leaflets whilst the film My Sister's Keeper was showing. Andrea was also responsible for us being featured on the Vodaphone advert when she sat on top of a giant charity tin declaring that she would give donate her time to LLTGL!

Whilst an advocate Andrea has also done many talks to 100's of people, she has an inspirational story to tell and uses this as a tool to educate people about the importance of Organ Donation. Other highlights include... attending the Live Life Then Give Life abseil in 2009 helping to raise over £3000 for us here at LLTGL.

The British Transplant Games in 2010.

Advocate away weekend 2009

Andrea you are truly inspiring, you have done so much for us here at LLTGL and for the world of Organ Donation. Thank you so much for all the incredible work you've done over the years. You have been a truly wonderful advocate and we've been extremely proud to have you as a member of the team. There is no doubt that your hard work, creative ideas, and constant campaigning will have saved lives and we're very grateful for your contribution. You're an absolute star.We will miss you so much but wish you and Mike all the love and luck in the world!

Extraordinary Emily

On Thursday February 10th the Live Life then Give Life team attended the Just Giving Awards at the Emirates Stadium in London. We were up for Charity of the Year (people's choice) and Emily (our wonderful chairman) was up for the Lifetime Achievement Award (yes at 26!).

Sadly we didn't win the Charity award it went to the amazing charity Shelterbox however Emily’s hard work and determination in the field of fundraising was recognised as she won the lifetime acheievement award. Emily campaigns relentlessly to raise awareness about both organ donation and cystic fibrosis so we were thrilled that she was rewarded for her efforts!


Emily started fundraising at the tender age of 10, when she held a small event in her back garden, raising £120. She has since helped raise over £60,000 for various charities, including the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and us here at Live Life Then Give Life.

Emily has never stopped campaigning and in 2006 did her biggest fundraiser to date, where she left her hospital bed to take part in a 5K challenge, using a wheelchair and oxygen to help her complete the course and raising over £20,000.

Emily says “I love fundraising; it gives me such a buzz knowing that I’m doing something proactive for causes I care so much about. I was absolutely stunned to win at the Justgiving awards last night and completely overwhelmed. I’m hugely grateful to all those who continue to support me in my fight to raise awareness and funds for both Cystic Fibrosis and Organ Donation.”



Matt Coyne, our Vice-chairman says “I was wondering how someone so young could receive a Life Time Achievement award...I believe anyone that knows her, has listened to one of her talks or chatted to her in our online community, would be able to answer that question for me with ease.”

Read an article from Emily's local paper here.

Well done Emily, you are inspiring and we are all so proud of you x