MettleDM1ST winners
Transplant athletes back our call for donor opt-out system
AFTER storming to victory in a relay race, little Jack Morris-Piney shows how vital the Mirror’s Change the Law for Life campaign is.
The three-year-old was given some of dad Jack Snr’s liver when he was four months old and has just competed in the 40th British Transplant Games – as its youngest athlete.
Jack Snr, 27, joined him in the “live donor” relay as mum Debra, 37, cheered.
The lad was among 750 people taking part in the games in Lanarkshire – and they all backed our call for an opt-out donor system in England and Ireland. Jack Snr, of Poulton-leFylde, Lancs, said: “The answer to opt out is a categorical yes from me. If you are happy to receive a donor organ, you should be happy to give one.”
Oldest competitor Michael Gibbons, 82, was there with his donor too. Wife Ann, 78, gave him a kidney 10 years ago. She said: “He was on dialysis three years. I did not need to think about it.” Michael, of Draughton, Yorks, has won gold in squash and runs in the 400m, 1500m and 5k. He said: “I’ve never looked back.” Triathlon bronze-medallist Louise McLellan, 47, said she thinks of the man whose heart she got in 2013 in every race. The Mancunian said: “I know he is a male aged 21. That is all. Every time I do the Great North Run, when I get to the last mile, I will think of him.” Louise urged everyone to back our campaign – as did archery champ Susan Wrightson, 51. Born with her heart on the wrong side, she was not expected to survive a year. But she made it to a transplant in 1992 and has thrived since. She said: “You have to respect people’s wishes but if you don’t want to donate, you can opt out. I know my donor was 22 and died in a car accident. She is living on in me.” There are 6,389 people on the active transplant list. More than 10,000 have backed our bid to change the law. Join the organ donation register at organdonation.nhs.uk
If you’re happy to receive a donor organ, you should be happy to give one JACK MORRIS-PINEY SNR FATHER OF JACK, THREE