Pride of Britain sparks surge in organ donation

Max and Ella on TV give 58% boost

A HUGE surge in organ donors was recorded after viewers saw transplant kids Max Johnson and Ella Chadwick on TV in our Pride of Britain Awards.

Figures today show 5,544 people joined the register – 58% up on the week before.

Clicks on the NHS Blood and Transplant website rose 342% and on-line traffic 57%.

NHS chiefs said the increase was similar to that from a Government campaign.

Millions tuned in last Tuesday to see

Max, 10, and Ella, 11, INSPIRATION Max pay tribute to their donors. Dale Gardiner, of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “The uplifting stories clearly touched hearts across the nation and inspired thousands.” The Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, was attended by Joe and Loanna Ball, parents of crash victim Keira, whose transplanted heart saved Max. They called the donor rise “fantastic”. The Mirror’s Change the Law for Life campaign has led to the new Max’s Law under which everyone is presumed to be a donor unless they opt out of it.