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| Mother backing organ donor drive | Mother backing organ donor drive |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The mother of a Welsh skating champion, whose organs helped save six lives after his death, has urged people to join the organ donation register. | The mother of a Welsh skating champion, whose organs helped save six lives after his death, has urged people to join the organ donation register. |
| Gaynor Taylor said it was also vital to tell relatives once you had done so. | Gaynor Taylor said it was also vital to tell relatives once you had done so. |
| She was unaware her son Richard, 23 at the time, had registered and said it was a "weight off her shoulders" to discover she had followed his wishes. | She was unaware her son Richard, 23 at the time, had registered and said it was a "weight off her shoulders" to discover she had followed his wishes. |
| New research in Cardiff found a big gap between those who have registered and those who thought they had. | New research in Cardiff found a big gap between those who have registered and those who thought they had. |
| A NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) road show at the corner of Queen Street and Castle Street in the city on Saturday will be encouraging people to join. | |
| It is part of a UK-wide campaign to close the gap between the 96% of people who say they would be willing to accept an organ if they needed one and the 27% of people who have pledged to donate by joining the register. | It is part of a UK-wide campaign to close the gap between the 96% of people who say they would be willing to accept an organ if they needed one and the 27% of people who have pledged to donate by joining the register. |
| In Cardiff, a recent NHSBT survey revealed that 35% of people think they are on the register whereas the actual proportion is 27%. | In Cardiff, a recent NHSBT survey revealed that 35% of people think they are on the register whereas the actual proportion is 27%. |
| Just weeks before his death in an accident on 7 August, 2004 Mr Taylor, from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, had won the UK in-line skating championships for the second year running. | Just weeks before his death in an accident on 7 August, 2004 Mr Taylor, from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, had won the UK in-line skating championships for the second year running. |
| His mother said: "My husband and I made the decision to agree to having his organs donated. | His mother said: "My husband and I made the decision to agree to having his organs donated. |
| The roadshow wiil be in Cardiffâs Churchill Way from 0900 to 1700 GMT on Saturday | The roadshow wiil be in Cardiffâs Churchill Way from 0900 to 1700 GMT on Saturday |
| "About half an hour later the co-ordinator came to see us and said he was on the register anyway. | "About half an hour later the co-ordinator came to see us and said he was on the register anyway. |
| "We had not realised this and it was like a weight being taken off our shoulders that we had followed his wishes. | "We had not realised this and it was like a weight being taken off our shoulders that we had followed his wishes. |
| "What would have happed if we had said no and then been told that he was on the organ donation register?" | "What would have happed if we had said no and then been told that he was on the organ donation register?" |
| Mrs Taylor said knowing that six people had benefitted from the organ donations - including the mother of a 20-month old child - had helped her and her husband through the ordeal. | Mrs Taylor said knowing that six people had benefitted from the organ donations - including the mother of a 20-month old child - had helped her and her husband through the ordeal. |
| "That affected me quite deeply - knowing that a 20-month old child would now have a mother," she added. | "That affected me quite deeply - knowing that a 20-month old child would now have a mother," she added. |
| "There is an opportunity to make something of a death - to make a positive out of a negative. | "There is an opportunity to make something of a death - to make a positive out of a negative. |
| Lost or damaged | Lost or damaged |
| "Richard was such a positive person, he had led a really active life. Knowing six people were helped from him dying seems to sum up his life for us." | "Richard was such a positive person, he had led a really active life. Knowing six people were helped from him dying seems to sum up his life for us." |
| The original kidney donor card was launched back in the 1970s as a stand-alone system for expressing people's organ donation wishes. | The original kidney donor card was launched back in the 1970s as a stand-alone system for expressing people's organ donation wishes. |
| The NHS Organ Donor Register followed in 1994, providing a central place for everyone's wishes to be stored. | The NHS Organ Donor Register followed in 1994, providing a central place for everyone's wishes to be stored. |
| Sally Johnson of NHSBT said there seemed to be confusion among some people who believe that they are signed up to the register because they already carry a donor card. | Sally Johnson of NHSBT said there seemed to be confusion among some people who believe that they are signed up to the register because they already carry a donor card. |
| "Carrying a donor card is great but on its own can get lost or damaged," she added. | "Carrying a donor card is great but on its own can get lost or damaged," she added. |
| "The best way to record your wishes is to sign up to the ODR and then to discuss you decision with those close to you." | "The best way to record your wishes is to sign up to the ODR and then to discuss you decision with those close to you." |
| Currently 359 people are waiting for an organ transplant in Wales and between April 2008 and March 2009 290 organ transplants took place. | Currently 359 people are waiting for an organ transplant in Wales and between April 2008 and March 2009 290 organ transplants took place. |
| But 36 people in Wales died over the same period whilst waiting for a donor. | But 36 people in Wales died over the same period whilst waiting for a donor. |
| To join the organ donor register visit the website (see related links) or call 0300 123 2323 or text DONATE to 84880 | To join the organ donor register visit the website (see related links) or call 0300 123 2323 or text DONATE to 84880 |