THE drive to recruit thousands more organ donors in our region is being taken to the streets.

Medical organisation Yormed has backed our Lifesavers campaign and is spreading the word by emblazoning its vehicles with our posters.

Staff at the York-based group hope the move will encourage people to sign up to the national Organ Donor Register, helping to prevent thousands of needless deaths.

Our campaign, launched in December following the death of 22-year-old cystic fibrosis sufferer Emma Young from Ryedale, aims to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and to recruit an extra 20,000 donors from our circulation area by the end of 2010.

The latest move is thanks to the Osbaldwick branch of Signs Express, which has produced a series of large signs promoting the campaign.

Yormed, which provides a range of medical services, including first aid at events, has already put one on one of its ambulances and another on one of its cars.

They got their first showing on Friday night, at the launch of Operation Style, Safer York Partnership’s latest effort to curb antisocial behaviour.

Ashley Mason, ambulance technician with the organisation, said: “We have the signs up on the vehicles and a lot of people have been asking about them, so it’s been a great opportunity to explain.

“I’m on the Organ Donor Register myself and we encourage anyone who works for us to register.

“And obviously when we teach first aid, we often talk about the importance of the donor scheme.”


How to join

You can join the NHS Organ Donor Register by:

• Going online at organdonation.nhs.uk

• Phoning the 24-hour donor line on 0300 123 23 23.

• Texting SAVE to 84118.

You can also join when you register for a driving licence, register at a GP surgery, register for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or apply for a Boots Advantage card.

Leaflets have also been sent to every shop or outlet that sells The Press, and are also displayed in GPs surgeries, libraries and many hospitals and pharmacies.