Premier League, Championship, League One and Two football clubs across the country have joined force, pledging their support for the ‘Sign for Life’ campaign to urge fans to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. With around 10,000 people, across the UK, need a transplant, clubs including; West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Stoke City, Manchester City, Southampton, Everton, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Sheffield Wednesday and Notts County are all onboard. Some of the Chelsea Ladies team will be joining in the promotion by being photographed in Sign for Life t-shirts.
More than 30 Premier League, Championship and League One and Two football clubs as well as a wide range of partners are backing the second Sign for Life campaign which urges fans to join the NHS Organ Donor Register and have a conversation about organ donation.
Anthony Clarkson, Assistant Director for Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant said, "We are asking all football fans to take a moment to reflect on matchday not just on their team's result, but on whether they would like to help others to live after they have died by donating their organs. We are delighted that so many top teams are working with us to encourage their fans to join the Organ Donor Register, showing that they want to save and improve the lives of others. Football is our national sport and the passion fans have for the game and their team will, through this campaign, offer hope to all those who are waiting for a transplant."
In 2014/2015 the number of organ donors in the UK fell for the first time in 11 years. The number of transplants also decreased from 4,655 in 2013/14 to 4,431 in 2014/15. This 5 per cent decrease resulted in 224 fewer people receiving an organ transplant.
