THE tag-line for Nottingham's hospitals' organ donation campaign is "Be a Hero".
It is a poignant title, given that it has been dubbed this in memory of a young Keyworth soldier called James Donaldson, who died in a motorbike accident at the age of 24 nearly eight years ago.
At the time of the crash his girlfriend was riding as the pillion passenger, and although he lost his life in the accident, his girlfriend only broke her wrist.
"We believe he died trying to cushion the blow for his girlfriend," said his mum Carol Donaldson of Dale Road, Keyworth.
But it was in death that James's heroic spirit came to the fore.
Unbeknown to his parents he had signed the register for all his organs to be donated to those in need.
James' liver went to a 55-year-old man, a ten-year-old boy had one kidney, a 51-year-old woman had a second kidney and his pancreas, while a 38-year-old man received his heart.
The tragic loss of his life saved the lives of four others.
So inspired has his mother been by her eldest son's actions, that since his death she has tirelessly worked for the Nottingham University Hospitals Trust to raise awareness about the issue.
She said: "James was a hero even in death, and all we're asking is for people to seriously put some thought into joining the register, because it really does change people's lives."
Today the trust, which runs the QMC and City Hospital in Nottingham, is launching its Be a Hero campaign in an effort to bolster the numbers on the donor list.
Last year at the two hospitals, 13 donors allowed 39 patients to benefit from 40 organs.
Currently there are 310,182 people in Notts registered as organ donors – just 28 per cent of the population, the same percentage figure as the national average.
Latest figures show there are 163 people currently waiting for organs in the county.
This is five per cent more than at the same point last year, when there were 155 people waiting, but not as many as in 2010 when 173 people were on the list.
There are 10,000 people currently in need of a transplant in the UK, and three people die everyday whilst waiting.
Anyone can register on the NHS Organ Donor Register, age isn't a barrier to being an organ and/or tissue donor, and neither are most medical conditions.
Former miner Trevor Goodman, 63, of Bilsthorpe had a new heart and kidney.
He said: "Organ donations have saved my life. My daughter was just 12 when I had my heart attack I wouldn't have made it had I not been offered a new heart. I would urge everyone to consider putting their name on the list."
The hospital campaign has already got the backing of Notts County FC.
Club chairman Ray Trew said: "As a man with a family I would ask everyone to discuss this important matter with their loved ones and make the pledge to join the Organ Donor Register.
"Joining the Organ Donor Register is very important as it can make a massive difference to those people directly affected."
Simply carrying a donor card does not mean you are on the register – you need to sign up to join the database from this website www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.
Have you been helped by an organ donation? Call Dominic Howell on 0115 905 1953.
