Farron urges families to join organ donor register

Tim Farron has called on more families in the South Lakes to join the organ donor register.

The MP made his call whilst visiting a donation stand at Westmorland General Hospital at the start of Organ Donor Week.

Running the stand was the former Mayor of Kendal, Cllr Chris Hogg. Following a year-long campaign by Cllr Hogg, Kendal became the first Organ Donor Town in the UK.

Cllr Hogg chose to make organ donation the key theme of his year as Mayor, having seen first-hand the difference which organ donation can make. Chris donated one of his kidneys to his wife Rachael earlier last year.

On average in the UK, three people a day die in need of a transplant due to a shortage of people being willing to donate organs.

As of last week, there were 6,414 people in need of a new organ on the UK transplant waiting list.

Tim said: "Although we should be proud of the huge numbers of people in the South Lakes that signed up to be organ donor, the number of people who die every year because they can't find a donor is still far too high.

I am calling on everyone who has not signed up to join the organ donor register today. It is quick and easy to do, but could well be the difference between life and death for someone."