The theme of Organ Donor Awareness Week 2021 is "Life Is A Gift, Pass It On".
Thousands of people in Ireland, and millions around the world, are enjoying extra 'gifted' years of life thanks to the generosity of Organ Donors and their families.
Our campaign poster this year features 32 of these recipients, who between them have gained over 400 years of extra life since their transplant.
These extra years have allowed them to be there for weddings, communions, births, holidays and much more. For some of the youngest on our poster, their transplant has simply allowed them the freedom to be a child.
Get Involved
To celebrate our theme of 'Life Is A Gift, Pass It On', we've had some of our friends make chain videos of them passing the Organ Donor Card on - they are literally passing on both the card and their wishes!
We'd love it if you could get involved and ask your friends to do the same. Request an organ donor card, or download the Organ Donor Card App, then take a photo or video and share your wishes on social media using our hashtag #LifeIsAGift. Then tag three of your friends to do the same!
Here is a suggested post you could use:
Life Is A Gift, Pass It On! I'm saying yes to Organ Donation, and I'm asking @friend1 @friend2 & @friend3 to do the same! Freetext DONOR to 50050 to get your Organ Donor Card. #LifeIsAGift
If you want to get extra creative, go ahead - and if you can't wait for your card to arrive before you take a picture or video, you can print one from our campaign materials below.
Get An Organ Donor Card
Get an Organ Donor Card, or download the digital Card App, and most importantly share your wishes with your next-of-kin. Ultimately, they get the final say if doctors ask about organ donation - so make sure they know what you would want!
Go Green
Green is the International colour for Organ Donation - and throughout the week buildings around Ireland will be lit up green to celebrate! Find one, tag us in your photo and be entered into a raffle to win one of 100 IKA branded face masks!
Make A Contribution to the IKA
The Irish Kidney Association is a charity led by patients, providing services for people living with & affected by End-Stage Kidney Disease. Our services meet the non-medical needs of patients and their families that are often forgotten about.
Videos
All of the videos from Organ Donor Awareness Week 2021 are available on our YouTube channel, including our Virtual Launch (23rd March 2021), transplant recipients sharing their stories and a message from the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.
