Fr Davies Chiramel, chairman of Kidney Federation of India, popularly known as Kidney Priest of India, will lead the Gift of Life campaign for Upahaar to promote organ, stem cell donation among South Asians….reports Asian Lite, UK’s No 1 newspaper for British Asians
Upahaar, a national charity promoting organ, stem cell donation among South Asians, is launching a national campaign to urge more people to join national organ and blood stem cell donor registry. The campaign titled ‘Gift of Life’ will begin from Manchester on May 23 and will conclude at an event in London on June 6.
Fr Davies Chiramel, chairman of Kidney Federation of India, will lead the campaign. Fr Chiramel, popularly known as Kidney Priest of India after donating a kidney to a stranger, has done ground breaking work in India on organ donation awareness and now working internationally. He will be supported by other prominent personalities and community leaders from the UK. During these visits, the team will deliver motivational and educational speeches to increase the awareness of this noble deed among the communities.
Campaign team include South Asian doctors, nurses, solicitors, journalists, religious and community leaders.
Upahaar is a charity organisation committed to save as many lives as possible by promoting organ, blood stem cell donation. Its aim is to increase awareness among South Asians in the UK about organ and blood stem cell donation.
It is a known fact that the chance of getting matched donors for both organ and bone marrow transplantation is more from same ethnic communities. Therefore, the charity recognises the importance of more people from South Asian background to join he organ and blood stem cell donor registry. This will help south Asian patients who are waiting for matched organ donors and blood stem cell donors for their survival.
ROADSHOW
The campaign will be launched in Manchester and cover Bolton, Glasgow, Sunderland, Leeds, Sheffield, Oxford, Bristol, Gloucester, Cardiff, Basingstoke and conclude at an event in London. Several prominent organisations and media are supporting the campaign.
SUPPORTERS
This include NHS BT, Delete Blood Cancer UK, UUKMA, Cardiff Malayalee association, Scotland Malayalee Association, Gloucester Malayalee Association, BRISKA, Wales Tamil Sangam, Muslim Health Network, National Council of Kerala Hindu Heritage, Asian Lite Newspaper, Kerala Link, British Malayalee Charity Foundation, UK Malayalam News, European Malayalam news, British Pathram and Friends Sporting Club.
Inaugural function at Manchester
Inaugural event is at Ghandhi Hall in Manchester on 23rd May at 2.30 pm by Mr Siddiq Diwan, Imam at Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust. Several social and religious leaders will attend.
What UPAHAAR does during the campaign?
The Campaign team under the leadership of Father Davies Chiramel include South Asian doctors, nurses, advocates, journalists, religious and social leaders will provide educational and motivational speech. Clarify all misunderstanding around solid organ and blood stem cell donation among the public
With the help of volunteers from host organisations, we do swab test for stem cell typing as many as possible,
Collect the consent forms for diseased solid organ donation from members of the organisation and other public who attend the function. UPAHAAR provides certificates of participation and recognition for all organisations who hosted our campaign in the final ceremony in London.
We also provide the best organiser and the best organisation award during the function at the end.
UPAHAAR honour volunteers and certificate of appreciation will be given to each volunteer at the local ceremony
For more details, please contact Dr Aabideen on 07725867054