Kendal Organ Donor Town Officially Unveiled

South Lakes MP Tim Farron and Anthony Clarkson, Assistant Director of Organ Donation and Nursing for the NHS Blood and Transplant Authority, today unveiled a plaque in Kendal celebrating Kendal's status as an Organ Donor Town.

Kendal becomes the first Organ Donor Town in the UK, following a year-long campaign by Mayor of Kendal, Cllr Chris Hogg. 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 this year.

Thanks to Cllr Hogg's campaign to raise awareness at events throughout the year, over 800 Kendal residents joined the organ donor list during the year. Across South Lakeland, around 2500 residents were added to the register. These additional sign-ups come on top of figures which were already in the top 25% of areas.

Tim said: "This is a fantastic achievement, which shows the community spirit of our area. The decision which these donors have made will quite literally transform people's lives.

"I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with this project, in particular Mayor Chris Hogg and the Chair of Kendal Organ Donor Town Glenys Marriott.

"Chris has chosen to dedicate his time in office to doing something which will make an enormous difference to those who come to benefit from it. Chris' decision to donate his kidney was an inspiring example of selfless giving."