Faith Group Leaders Come Together To Support 'Wall Of Life'

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 24 Jun 2009 - 8:00 PDT

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Leaders of the major faith groups have put their support behind the Wall of Life, an interactive campaign launched today by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). The campaign - at http://www.walloflife.org.uk - aims to promote awareness of and support for organ donation to boost the number of people joining the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR).

The Wall of Life is an online mosaic created from people's photos posted on the site to show their support for organ donation. These photos come together to make up the image of two-year old Louisa McGregor-Smith whose life was saved by a heart transplant in 2007 at just five months old. At least 60,000 people need to upload their photos on to the Wall to build Louisa's image.

People joining the Wall of Life can then pass details to their friends and families to download a personalised widget on their social profiles and websites, spreading the message across social networks.

The Wall of Life has been created as part of a national campaign to highlight the constant need for organs in the UK. More than 10,000 people currently need a transplant operation, of whom 1000 - 3 a day - will die before an organ becomes available.

Faith group leaders who are supporting the Wall of Life include:

- Rt Rev Dr Tom Butler, The Bishop of Southwark
- Dr Indarjit Singh, Director of the Sikh Network UK
- Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi
- Anil Bhanot, General Secretary of the Hindu Council UK
- Dr Shuja Shafi, Vice Chair of the Muslim Council of Britain's health and medical committee
- Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

They are joined by a number of public figures, including:

- Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympic gold medallist
- Trisha Goddard, TV presenter
- Asif Khan, actor
- David Gower, former England cricketer and sports commentator

Lynda Hamlyn, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "People often find organ donation a difficult subject to raise with their family and friends and some are unsure of the stance which their religion takes on the issue. This public support from faith leaders gives them clear guidance to help their decision about organ donation.

"We all have the potential to save lives by signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register, demonstrating our support by joining the Wall of Life and spreading the message to others."

Louisa's mother, Samantha added: "We are so grateful that our baby girl was given a second chance and keen that everyone knows the good that comes out of signing up to NHS Organ Donation Register."

Notes

1. Please go to http://www.walloflife.org.uk to join the Wall of Life. People who are already on the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR) can upload their photo straight away. Those not yet registered can do so via the site and then follow instructions to join the Wall of Life. People can also post a short message and can forward the application to their family and friends as a prompt for them to sign up.

2. The ODR is a confidential database used to identify those who have indicated that they wish to donate organs and/or tissue after their death for the purpose of transplantation. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is consulted after someone has died by authorised NHS staff in order to establish a person's wishes about donation.

3. Last year, 3504 organ transplants were carried out in the UK, thanks to the generosity of 1844 deceased and living donors - the highest number on record.

4. Joining the ODR is simple - go tohttp:// www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call the Donor Line on 0 300 123 23 23. Calls to 0300 numbers cost no more than to a standard landline number, even from a mobile phone.

5. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority in the NHS. It is the organ donation organisation for the UK, with responsibility for matching and allocating donated organs. Its remit also includes the provision of a safe, reliable and efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS.

Additional quotes:

Anil Bhanot, General Secretary, Hindu Council UK: "In the final stage or Ashram of life, Hindus enter into the renunciation phase where one has to donate or daan ones possessions. To donate one's body parts after death seems to me to be a wonderful opportunity for helping others who may need them.

"Hindus cremate the dead body and through the purifying fire principle, the Agni - Devata, the five elements of earth, fire, water, air and ether, composing the body are thanked for having allowed one's soul to have had a use of the body as a temple. However, after death, the body is cast off as "worn old clothes" [Bhagwad Gita]. Where such old body parts move to another body they come under the charge of that new resident soul, while the donor soul not only thanks but shows respect to the Vedic Devatas of those five principle elements, by this last act of renunciation.

"I hope all Hindus will avail this opportunity to donate their body parts, as their last duty in Dharma."

Rt Rev Dr Tom Butler, The Bishop of Southwark: "In signing up to the Organ Donor Register we are making a commitment in life for someone else to benefit from our death. This commitment flows naturally from the compassion and love for one another which is integral to Christianity."

Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster: "Being an organ donor is a true act of generosity. I'm going to join the Register and encourage others to do the same."

Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks: "Saving life is, in Judaism, a supreme command. Organ donation within the parameters of Jewish law is therefore both a moral and a religious deed."

Dr Injardit Singh, Director of the Sikh Network UK: "Sikh philosophy and teachings place great emphasis on the importance of giving and putting others before oneself. Registering to be an organ donor after death is indeed a noble and selfless deed and I would urge all Sikhs to sign up.

"This is not just a religious issue, however. This is a matter concerning the whole of society - we can do more to help others. By signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and joining the Wall of Life, we have the ability to make a real difference to the life of not just one, but many, after our death."

Dr Shuja Shafi, Chair of Chaplaincy Committee and of 'The Muslim Spiritual care Provision in the NHS' Project of the Muslim Council of Britain: "Organ Transplantation saves lives. Organ donation is a great gift; it is considered a noble act in Islam. Allah greatly rewards "anyone (who) saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people"(Quran, Ch 5: v32).

"More donors are needed, the imbalance between the need and availability of organs for transplants is denying the gift of life to approximately 1,000 people per year (i.e. 3 a day) who die while waiting for donated organs.

"Obviously organ donation is very much an individual choice and can't be forced. I would urge everyone to consider signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register, and to the Wall of Life, to show their support and make others aware of the issue."

TV presenter, Trisha Goddard: "Knowing that after I'm gone I can help others to have the chance of living a life as blessed and full as mine actually makes me feel very important. If you have the gift of giving someone else a fighting chance, why not use it? Sign up now."

David Gower, former England cricketer and TV presenter: "I have registered to be an organ donor because I feel that if I am willing to receive an organ, then it is only right that I am also willing to give to someone of equal need."

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympic gold medallist: "To donate any organ is a tremendous gift to be able to give, one which could dramatically change someone's life, so please join me and my family on the NHS Organ Donor Register today."

Asif Khan, actor: "I think it is important to be an organ donor and I hope that by signing up to the Organ Donation Register, I can help others."

Source
NHS