‘One minute of your time could save a life’ is the mantra that underpins the partnership between the Sunshine Coast Lightning, Melbourne Storm and an Australian Government initiative aiming to improve organ and tissue donation registration rates.
DonateLife encourage Australians to register to be an organ and tissue donor, which only takes one minute.
Tuesday’s Suncorp Super Netball clash between the Lightning and NSW Swifts will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation via activation in the Strike Zone, merchandise, DonateLife court decal, and participation in a pre-game guard of honour, ball delivery and coin toss.
With about 1,750 Australians, dozens of whom are children, waiting for life-saving transplants, the message from DonateLife, Lightning and Storm is clear – discuss donation with your family and register your wishes.
“It’s never been easier to register, it actually takes less than a minute online or just three taps on your Medicare Express Plus app” said DonateLife Specialist Nurse Coordinator Shona McDonald.
“Talk to your family, let them know and you can one day save a life.”
Lightning players and staff on match eve benefitted from the inspiring story of Kate who was diagnosed with liver failure as an eight-year-old.
She lost a brother to liver failure and her father also faced liver problems before undergoing transplant surgery.
Kate was 17 when faced with critical transplant surgery. That was 24 years ago, and she and her father are living testaments to the importance of organ and tissue donation.
She’s a regular competitor in ultra-running events and her father is “still kicking at 72”.
“If I’d waited any longer, I wouldn’t be here,” she said.
“Living each day is the only way I can honour my donor family.”
Ms McDonald said a single organ donor could potentially save the lives of up to seven people, and many more through tissue donation.
“It’s the best treatment option we have for organ failure,” she said.
“It not only saves their life but there’s a ripple effect. The recipient can go back to work, celebrate birthdays and other milestones, and contribute to society.”
For more information and to register to become and organ and tissue donor go to donatelife.gov.au
