Sunderland to be lit up in pink for Organ Donation Week as Beatrix Archbold fronts campaign

Organ Donation Week starts on Monday and Wearside is right on board - especially after councillors got to meet a courageous little girl who had a heart transplant.

City landmarks will be lit up in pink as a show of support for Beatrix Archbold, whose mum Cheryl is from Roker, and the family’s awareness campaign.

Make it compulsory in schools

The three year old got the gift of life last year and, ever since, her parents have called for organ donation to be a topic on the national curriculum in all schools.

Cllr Kelly Chequer, deputy leader and health, wellbeing and safer communities portfolio holder at Sunderland City Council, has agreed to support the campaign.

She said: “As a mother and an NHS worker, I knew as soon as I heard Beatrix’s story that it was one I and my colleagues would be willing to get behind and champion.

‘I can’t even imagine what a 14 month wait must have been like’

 “Organ transplants are distressing enough, so I can’t even begin to imagine what the 14-month wait must’ve been like for the family.

 “Sadly, while huge strides have been made in raising awareness over the years, it has mainly been among the adult population, with many youngsters still unaware of it.

 “Hopefully however, should this campaign prove a success, we will see a huge influx in the number of young people signing up to become organ donors, which in turn could help save hundreds, if not thousands of lives each and every year.”

Also on board is the Sunderland-based Red Sky Foundation which raises vital funds for babies, children and adults, who are born with or develop heart conditions.  

Encouraging you to sign up

Cllr Chequer took to the floor at the Full Council to inform councillors that the City Council has agreed to support the campaign.

 As well as lighting up landmarks in pink, the Council’s website and social media channels will further encourage residents to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor register.

Cllr Chequer added: “As a council we do a huge amount to support our health partners in key initiatives such as immunisation and screening campaigns.”

So much progress

Beatrix’s dad Terry Archbold said: “We have been lobbying Government heavily. The big push is for them to adapt the National Curriculum to include organ donation awareness as a compulsory topic.

“It is an optional extra in secondary schools only at the moment.”

Terry was hoping to have meetings with representatives of the new Government to discuss the issue further.

For more information on Organ Donation Week, visit: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/