More pictures below...
In celebration of National Transplant Week 2009 (6th-12th July), the Camberwell Haemodialysis unit held a series of activities to promote awareness and encourage the public to consider becoming organ donors. The week began with the launch of an essay competition where patients were asked to write about what a kidney transplant would mean to them and how it would benefit them. Stickers asking people to join the donor register were put up at local shops in the area.
On Tuesday the constituency's MP Kate Hoey opened the 'Garden of Life" where a rose will be planted for each patient from this unit who receives a transplant, thereby giving hope and inspiration to other patients. Over the next two days patients participated in a sponsored "dry weight" to raise money for the unit. On Thursday, staff and patients braved the indecisive weather to give out information leaflets to the public at Brixton tube station. On Friday and Saturday the unit held its annual barbecue sponsored by the KPA. The Renal Social Worker arranged for a masseur to visit, and a Bring and Buy Sale raised funds along with bucket donations. At the BBQs there were visits from Lambeth Mayor Councillor Christopher Wellbelove, who opened the Bring and Buy, and Trevor Cook, ex-Chair of the KPA. Interestingly, the Mayor announced he had signed up that morning to become a donor!
Cash Ryan, a dialysis patient and KPA member, is leading an opt-out donor petition which will be submitted to the Prime Minister. All in all it was an extremely successful day and could not have been achieved without Sister Viviene Caguicla who worked effortlessly with CamberwellÕs KPA Representatives, Cash Ryan and Julet Purchas-Tejan, as well as members of her fantastic staff team to organise these events.
Somoe more pictures from the day:
