Following the success of our two previous events, Walk for Life 3 will take place on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July, each day starting at King Street in Belper at 10:00am an average of 15-16 miles per day.

The walk is aimed at promoting Organ Donation and encouraging people to join the organ donation register to give a quality of life to those who often have a desperate need.

There are currently over 24 million people on the national organ donation register with over 6000 people benefitting from successful transplant surgery last year alone. 96% of us would accept organ donation, if necessary, with less than a third of that number signed up to donate. Three people die every day waiting for a transplant.

I was inspired to become involved after hearing of a life changing/ saving experience of Simon Elmore and Diana Higman, who both very close to dying, received transplants and now enjoy full lives with their families and have achieved Gold Medal success at the British European and World Transplant games.

Another inspiration is a Leicester based transplant recipient Kirit Mistry who now does great work promoting organ donation with numerous various ethnic minority groups.

This year we are looking to use donations and sponsorship to provide home kidney dialysis for someone locally, who may be finding a commute to hospital very difficult and in need of that care at home.

Some people require Kidney dialysis several times a week, sometime traveling considerable distances. Dialysis will usually take over four hours connected to the machine. Funds received by the ‘Walk for Life 3’ will be used towards a home dialysis unit. We would be very pleased to locate an individual in the locality who will benefit by this facility.

Please contact me on 07970 696486.

A big thank you to clinical lead Marco Giovannelli and his team at the Royal Derby Hospital whose dedication contributes so much to life saving surgery.

Thank you for your interest in this very worthy cause and perhaps most importantly to promote the cause, please feel very welcome to walk with us for all or just a small part of our Walk for Life 3. Please come along also to our social events on the three evenings following the days walk.

Gary J Spendlove

Chairman of the Royal Derby Hospital Organ Donation