This article appeared on a Warrington Website which discusses news in the local area...

Brave Holly's plea for organ donors

Published 05/05/08 7:00 am

by James Parr

A BRAVE Warrington woman has been named as a Key Advocate for charity Live Life Then Give Life.
Holly Shaw, who suffers from kidney failure, has been named a Key Advocate for the North West by the charity.
The 21-year-old, who has been on the waiting list for a kidney transplant for three years, has worked tirelessly alongside the charity for some time and they felt it was only right her efforts were recognised.

She said: "I am really proud to be an advocate for Live Life Then Give Life. The gift of life is so important and a transplant could give me back my life; dialysis is a life saver but also a life sentence. With a new kidney I wouldn't have to do the treatment but most of all I would just feel normal and well again."
Holly, who is a student at the University of Chester, has to visit hospital for dialysis three times a week and is not allowed to drink more than 500ml of fluid a day.
She is now appealing to the people of Warrington and other North West towns to sign up for NHS Organ Donor Register.

Vice-chairman of Live Life Then Give Life Emily Thackray said: "Holly currently spends three days a week in hospital on dialysis and is only allowed to drink 500ml of fluid per day. She has a daily battle with her health but is so enthusiastic and constantly offers to do more to help us promote and raise awareness about organ donation. We are thrilled to have Holly as our advocate for the North West."

More than 8,000 people in the UK require and organ donation, but due to the severe shortage in donors, 1,000 people died last year in need of a transplant.
Anyone who wants to sign up on the donor register can do so by visiting www.uktransplant.org.uk or by phoning the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400.