A CAMPAIGN urging people to join the organ donor register is being backed by Nottingham City Council.
City council leader, Jon Collins, has led the council's support for Nottingham University Hospital's campaign asking people to 'be a hero' and join the register.
He said: "We're all supporting NUH's 'be a hero' campaign to urge others to sign up to become organ donors.
"The campaign is clearly already having a great effect, with significant increases in organ donation at NUH. But we hope our involvement may go some way to keeping awareness of the issue in people's minds and making them realise it's up to them, not others, to make the decision."
Executive councillors at Nottingham City Council have also pledged their support for organ donation and joined the Organ Donor Register.
City Council Deputy Leader, Graham Chapman, added: "Most of us thankfully don't often have to make life or death decisions - however this is one which we can make and give the gift of life to the 10,000 people in the country who need an organ transplant."
More than 10,000 people in the UK currently need a transplant. Of these, three will die each day waiting as there are not enough organs available. In Nottinghamshire more than 150 people are waiting for a transplant.
Charmaine Buss, Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation said: "Joining the Organ Donor Register really does make a difference. It gives families such comfort at a very difficult time for them to know they will be able to honour their loved ones wishes.
"We are very grateful for all the support we have received during our 'be a hero' campaign and thank Nottingham City Council for being the latest supporters of our campaign."
Anyone can register on the ODR. Age is not a barrier to being an organ or tissue donor and neither are most medical conditions. People in their 70s and 80s have become donors and saved many lives.
At Nottingham University Hospitals last year (2012/13) 17 deceased donors allowed 40 patients to benefit from the gift of organ donation.
Since the launch of the 'be a hero' campaign in January over 5,000 people in Nottinghamshire have joined the Organ Donor Register.
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