• There is a chronic shortage of organ donors in the UK, with a particular shortage of child donors.
• 6,000 people died in the last ten years waiting for an organ transplant
• This year marks 45 years since the first kidney donor card was issued and 35 years since the first full donor card, yet the subject of organ donation is still a highly emotive and controversial issue for many
• Charity ‘Live Life Give Life’ believes the only way to stop organ donation being seen as a taboo subject is to get kids talking about it and considering it from an early age
• Despite this, just 15% of parents have discussed the subject with their children, with almost a third believing their children are too young to talk to about it
• To combat this, the charity has partnered with the creative team at Donroy to create ‘The Orgamites’ – cartoon characters Mr Bone and his eight mighty friends who are on a mission to get us talking about organ transplantation in schools and in our homes

 
Almost 49,000 people in the UK have endured the wait for an organ transplant in the last 10 years with over 6,000 dying before receiving the organ they desperately needed*. And yet only a minority of parents with children aged 18 and under have discussed the subject of organ donation with their immediate family members.

That’s according to new research by charity Live Life Give Life released today which shows that just 40% have spoken to their spouse or partner about their wishes, 19% have spoken to their parents, 15% with their children and merely 9% with their siblings.
Organ donation is a taboo subject amongst many families until it affects them directly or indirectly. Few people are aware of it and even fewer want to talk about it. In fact many parents would feel more comfortable discussing bullying (65%), racism (57%) cyber bullying (52%) cancer (49%), terrorism (47%) or homophobia (46%) with their kids rather than organ donation (45%).

In contrast, whilst more than 40% of parents said they wouldn’t avoid talking about organ donation with their children, they do worry that their children are too young to be told about this type of subject (29%) and 13% don’t want to upset their children.

2016 marks 45 years since the first kidney donor card was issued and 35 years since the first full donor card, but there is still a chronic shortage of organ donors in this country and particularly child donors as most parents are reluctant to sign their children up to the donor register.
The charity Live Life Give Life has a vision where organ donation is the norm, not the exception. So, in partnership with the creative team at Donroy, The Orgamites have been created to get the conversation started in a positive way. They want to encourage people young and old to discuss and consider organ donation before it affects them. Mr Bone and his seven mighty friends are on a mission to get us talking about organ transplantation in schools and in our homes in an accessible way.

I’m joined by Parenting & Child Behaviour Expert Eileen Hayes and Luke Yates, A Trustee of Live Life Give Life to find out why organ donation is something we should all be comfortable with discussing and how to bring up that potentially tricky conversation with younger people.

The Orgamites are a family of nine cartoon characters representing the major organs in the body that can be donated, and their minder, the engaging Mr ‘Funny’ Bone who acts as a spokesman for the Orgamites and also serves as a reminder of the importance of bone marrow transplants. The main objective of the Orgamites is to raise awareness and public acceptance of organ donation around the world, so that organ donation becomes the default position when anyone passes away for whatever reason. Their organs can then deliver life enhancing and life extending support to another person.

The lack of organs available for children is particularly critical, and the Orgamites are therefore a crucial tool in helping the educational process, in order to lead to greater acceptance of donation, and thus availability of organs for transplantation. At present, while many people understand the importance of this, it is nevertheless swept under the carpet; death and its consequences are not subjects that many people feel comfortable with. The Orgamites will be used to break through this barrier by helping people, especially children, to confront and learn about the problem in an amusing and engaging way, hopefully on a daily basis. Over time, children growing up with this concept will pass the message on to the next generation, helping to make organ donation the social norm.

The Orgamites will also become an ongoing support for organ donation at no cost to those who are dedicated to spreading this valuable message. In addition, the Orgamites will generate additional income to our partner charity, Live Life Give Life, to help them with their vital work. The Orgamites will support appropriate charitable and fundraising objectives but will remain independent of any other organisation. Our activity will always be transparent and stand the closest scrutiny.

About Live Life Give Life

Live Life Give Life was launched as a campaign in March 2006 by two friends – Emily Thackray (then 22) and Emma Harris (then 33). Both women suffered from Cystic Fibrosis, the UK’s most common life-threatening genetic disease, which causes progressive lung damage. The average life expectancy of a CF sufferer in the UK was just 31. In the final stages of the disease a double lung transplant offers the only hope of survival.


As a charity we hope to encourage people to register as organ donors via awareness campaigns, events and activities. By encouraging people to talk about organ donation and exchange views on the subject, whether or not they have been directly affected, the whole concept has become less taboo and more a celebration of what could be – and how uplifting it could feel to know that, as a donor, you might possibly save a number of other lives. Similarly, we hope that relatives of those who have donated their organs will draw comfort from the wider knowledge that their loved ones live on by way of helping others to achieve their dreams.

We also fund initiatives to improve the welfare of (and outcome for) patients in need or receipt of organ tissue transplants, in addition to supporting the public recognition of donors and their families.