‘Walk For Life 2’ Campaign To Raise Awareness For Organ Donation

Slenderella Director and former Mayor of Belper, Gary Spendlove, will be raising money for kidney dialysis machines and respite care as part of the charity ‘Walk For Life 2’ campaign.

The four day walk to promote organ donation awareness will take place a year after the successful ‘Walk For Life’ raised over £3,500. The event begins on June 28th at 10:00 am the Royal Derbyshire Hospital.

The funds from the 2018 ‘Walk For Life’ will go towards a dialysis caravan near Caernarfon, North Wales. This enables dialysis patients the opportunity for a short vacation, spending valuable time with their families, whilst having their treatment. Funding will also go towards home dialysis support to give patients a better quality of life.

Gary Spendlove, who is also the chairman of The Derby Royal Hospital Organ Donation Committee, said that: “I have had occasions to meet many people who have benefitted from transplant surgery. Including Diana Higman and Simon Elmore who have enjoyed Gold Medal sporting success at the world transplant games and my friend of many years, Trevor Jones who continues to coach and inspire our young generation in his role as President of Belper Meadows Cricket Club.”

2017 was a positive year for transplant awareness with in increase of 162 donors in the UK (now totalling 1575) and 4035 confirmed donor transplants.

Gary Spendlove said: “The 2017 ‘Walk for Life’ enabled Ashley, Simon and myself to visit several kidney dialysis units. We heard many stories of people travelling four or five days a week, even by public transport, to receive four hours of dialysis treatment just to stay alive.”

The walk will stress the need for people to carry a donor card and for carriers to make their families aware of their wishes. It is hoped the ‘Walk for Life’ will provide a boost to the many people on the waiting list for transplant surgery.

Using part of the ‘Peak Pilgrimage’, a picturesque walk through Derbyshire’s Peak District, the route will start at Derby Royal Hospital and pass through Ashbourne, Ilam, Hartington and Bakewell.

Mr Spendlove added that: “All walkers and participants may be sure of a life enhancing experience and at the end of the event to be confident that we will have made a serious contribution to people needing the ‘gift of life.”

Sponsor forms and event tickets are available from Slenderella Retail, 17 Queen Street, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1NR.

You can get involved by emailing them at walk_for_life@yahoo.com.

More details can be seen on the following pages:

Just giving: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/walkforlife2

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WalkForLife2/?ref=br_rs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WalkForLife_2