Royal approval for lifesaving donation drive

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, visited children who have received and who are waiting for lifesaving transplants at Leeds Children’s Hospital.

The Duchess has been named as a royal patron for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s Be A Hero campaign which aims to encourage people to sign the organ donor register.

In Yorkshire alone 800 people are waiting for lifesaving organs.

During her visit yesterday the Duchess said: “It was a pleasure for me to meet children here in Leeds who have received a lifesaving organ.

“The journey these children have been through is inspiring.

“They’ve been through so much and now their lives are finally back on track thanks to the selfless actions of organ donors.”

“Today really brought home for me the importance of being a hero and joining the organ donor register.

“This only takes two minutes to do but by doing so you could save up to nine lives, which is remarkable.

“I would urge everyone to get behind this campaign.

“It’s heart-breaking that three people a day die in the UK waiting for an organ.

“We all need to act now to lower this number.

“I am really pleased to be the patron for such an important campaign.”

The Duchess met Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s Chair, Linda Pollard CBE and Chief Executive Julian Hartley on the visit.

Linda Pollard CBE, Chair of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, praised the support and added: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Duchess to our Children’s Hospital.

“Her support in raising the profile of our campaign is invaluable.

“I know that many of the children on the ward really enjoyed meeting her.”

Click here to sign the NHS Organ Donor Register through Be A Hero.