Last week CHFT colleagues, their family members and Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation, Jayne Greenhalgh, attended the Huddersfield Town AFC match against Lincoln City to highlight the importance to people of confirming their decision on the NHS Organ Donor register.

The team wore pink beanies to stand out from the crowd and handed out business cards from matching pink tote bags to those attending the game.

And as part of the evening, our ICU Consultant and Clinical Lead for Organ Donation, Paul Knight, was joined on stage in the Riverside Lounge by 18-year-old Ava, daughter of Liver Specialist Nurse, Caroline Winkley. The pair answered a Q&A session for guests.

Paul said: “Ava was amazing. You could hear a pin drop as she spoke about her own personal journey and how her life has changed since her liver transplant at the age of five.

“The waiting list for a transplant is currently the highest it has ever been, with more than 8,200 people on it. In Huddersfield alone, 22 people are waiting for a transplant right now – the same number of Town and Lincoln City players who shared the pitch on Tuesday night. Sadly, someone will die every day whilst they are waiting for a transplant.

“Although all adults are now presumed to agree to organ donation unless they have opted out, the clinical teams and specialist nurse for organ donation must still discuss this with their families, as family support is paramount. So it’s always best to share your wishes with your family and friends as well as registering a decision on the organ donor register. 

“We know that most families support donation when their loved one is on the organ donor register.”

Leeds couple Tina and Aky Suryavansi came along with their son Akash and they are Blood and Transplant ambassadors. The pair are living related donors, having both donated a kidney to Akash.

Tina said: “We’ve come today as we’re so passionate about the cause. I gave Akash a kidney 22 years ago, and then 11 years ago Aky donated one of his kidneys to Akash.

Akash added: “I’ll always be eternally grateful to my mum and dad. Technically they’ve given me three lives. I always say if I’m half the person they both are, I’ll be happy.

“Most of us would accept an organ if we needed one. It takes just two minutes to confirm your decision and could save up to nine lives.”

You can confirm your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register website, or via the NHS App. Please also talk to your family and friends about the decision so they are aware.

Thank you to our Organ Donation Committee and their families for being at the event: CHFT's Chair Helen Hirst, Paul Knight, Jayne Greenhalgh, Liver Specialist Nurse Caroline Winkley and her daughter Ava, and to Finance Manager Sarah MacMahon, who brought along her whole family to help.

Ahead of the match, Huddersfield Town shared a powerful short video (no sound) on the big screens featuring former Town Academy graduate and player Jordan Sinnott. He always carried a donor card with him, and his family were aware of his wishes.