Battlefront You're Already Involved

Announcement

I'm heartbroken to announce that Jessica Wales, who featured in my Battlefront Programme, died peacefully on Tuesday 12th Jan, with her family by her side.

She was just 20 years old and had received her double lung transplant a couple of weeks earlier. Unfortunately, the wait had been too long and her body wasn't strong enough to cope. She had been awake following the operation and was aware that she had her transplant; she got her dream that she had been waiting for 4 ½ years but sadly, she will not be able to live it through due to major post transplant complications.

Her death won't be in vain. During her time waiting, Jess inspired thousands of people up and down the country through her campaigning, incredible attitude and passion for life.   She touched everyone's lives that she came into contact with.

We became close during and after the filming of Battlefront and I will always treasure the memories I have of her. I am so proud to be able to call Jess my friend.  We had made plans together for when she got her call, the things we would do...

Jess' wait was just too long and I intend to make her proud by continuing my work with the Battlefront campaign and the charity Live Life Then Give Life. We were both advocates of the charity, trying to change the world of Organ Donation, so 3 people a day don't needlessly die like Jess.

Of course my thoughts are with her family and everyone who knew her at this sad time.

"The stars that shine the brightest burn the fastest".

Rest in peace beautiful lady...  you can breathe easy now. Thinking of you every day & Love you always, Holly x

PS – I promise to be less of a kidney person now Jess x

My campaign

My campaign will raise awareness of organ donation and encourage more people to think, talk and do something about it. By educating people, and clearing up common misconceptions about Organ Donation, I hope to get more people to sign up to the Organ Donor Register and potentially save and transform the lives of others like myself.

In 2005 I went on the kidney transplant waiting list after a sudden illness caused kidney failure. I was kept alive by a dialysis machine which I was attached to 3 times each week, and was put on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. For many others on the waiting list dialysis isn’t an option – for them an organ transplant is a matter of life and death. Waiting was tough! However I have been lucky and recently received my gift of life, but for others this is not always the case as there is still a major shortage of Organ Donors in the UK.

I am determined to keep campaigning and fighting for the people still waiting on the transplant list.

My Campaign highlights

- Getting words of support from Gordon Brown on the number 10 website, here: http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page18965
- My campaign being the second most retweeted tweet in the world on April 7th!
- Putting on my Donor Day and getting thousands of sign-ups to the NHS Organ Donor Register
- Working with Oli Barrett and Amy MacClaren – my inspirational mentors!
- Appearing on GMTV

How can you help?

- Get in touch if you are affected by Organ Donation and Transplantation and want to join the campaign
- Sign up to the organ donor register by clicking on the image below
- Watch the video I've made that shows the big difference organ donation can make in someone's life by clicking here
- JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP