Farron takes 'Gift of Life' campaign to Parliament

The Westmorland Gazette's 'Gift of Life' campaign aimed at tackling the huge shortage of organ donors in Cumbria has been given the Parliamentary seal of approval, after South Lakeland MP Tim Farron tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling on newspapers across the country to follow the Gazette's example

Only 19.5% of people in Cumbria are currently on the Organ Donor register-nearly 10% below the national average. At the moment there are17 people waiting for organ transplants in South Lakeland and although waiting times do vary, people have been known to wait for up to two years for a lung transplant and more than three years for a kidney.

Mr Farron's Early Day Motion praises the Gazette's 'Gift of Life' campaign and calls on local media outlets across the country to use it as an example of how to raise awareness and help tackle the huge shortage of organ donors in the UK.

Commenting, Mr Farron said:

"Too many of us take for granted the fact that an organ will be available should we ever need one, but the reality is that three people die a day because of a lack of donors. That's why the low number of people not just in Cumbria-but across the country-who are signed up to the Organ Donor register is so very worrying

"I'm delighted that the Westmorland Gazette has decided to tackle the alarming shortage of organ donors by starting their 'Gift of Life' campaign to encourage more people to sign up to the Organ Donor register and help save many more lives.

"I'm hopeful that by doing my bit and bringing this worthwhile campaign to the attention of Parliament that local newspapers across the country will sit up and take notice of the Gazette's great work and start their own 'Gift of Life' campaign."