Youngster featured in organ donor campaign
When youngster Calvin Leary died in a car accident a vibrant and exciting future was snatched away forever.
But his organs were used to save the lives of five people, including a seven-year-old boy.
Now Calvin, who died in July 2008, aged 11, is to have his story featured in a national campaign to promote organ donation.
Calvin who was a pupil at St Andrew's CE Primary School, died after being hit by a van at Lane Ends, in Ashton, Preston.
His mum Jacqui, along with his sisters Tamsin,10, and Sasha, three, have backed the Give the Gift of Life This Christmas campaign, to encourage others to sign the organ donor register.
Calvin's story will be sent out to newspapers and media organisations as part of a drive to increase organ donation.
Jacqui said: "It shows the other side of the donation situation and the more personal side of it.
"For somebody to get organs, somebody has to die."
The campaign is being run by the charity Live Life Then Give Life.
Emily Thackray, who is chairman of the charity, said: "Jacqui is an amazing woman.
"Her brave decision has already saved five lives and now, despite her own grief, she is supporting Live Life Then Give Life and helping us spread the word about organ donation to help raise awareness of the 10,000 people waiting for transplants in the UK, 1,000 of whom die each year."
Jacqui and her family are also pushing ahead with their own campaign to encourage organ donation.
A year ago they launched a website calvinleary.net to share happy memories and encourage people to join the register through the site.
The site has had more than 500,000 hits along with tributes and endorsements from public figures.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has written a letter to the family as well as messages from celebrities including Sir Cliff Richard and actors Daniel Radcliffe and Barbara Windsor.
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 29 July 2010
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