Samuel honoured for organ donation

LEFT to right: Shirley Ogden, Sharon Guiney, Vice Lord-Lieutenant Edith Conn and Samantha Constantinou

A YOUNG man from Oldham has been posthumously honoured for saving a life through organ donation.

Samuel James Guiney (24), from Moorside, died in May 2015 after his white BMW collided with safety barriers and flipped onto its roof in Ripponden Road.

Mr Guiney was one of 19 people from across Greater Manchester who were honoured at a private award ceremony for saving lives through organ donation.

His mum Sharon Guiney, aunt Shirley Ogden and cousin, Samantha Constantinou, from Oldham, received the award on his behalf.

Families and loved ones of the recipients were presented with the Order of St John award for Organ Donation by Vice Lord-Lieutenant Edith Conn.

In its fourth year, the Organ Donor Awards, held at Chetham's School of Music last month, are run by St John Ambulance and NHS Blood and Transplant.

Darren Clark, Chair of the local County Priory Group of the Order of St John, said: "In 2016 around three people still die every day due to the shortage of organ donors.

"We hope the example set by the organ donors whose lives we are honouring today encourages many others to join the NHS Organ Donor Register - a process which takes just a few minutes online.

"We're delighted to meet the inspirational families attending today's ceremony.

"Organ donation can clearly save lives and it is a genuine privilege to be able to say thank you to these families, whose loved ones have already donated their organs to assist others."

Hundreds of families are receiving the accolade across the UK between September and December to recognise 1,364 people who donated their organs after death last year.

Around three people die every day in need of an organ and there are currently around 6,500 people on the UK transplant waiting list.

NHS Blood and Transplant appealed to Greater Manchester residents to be inspired by the actions of these donors.

Director of organ donation and transplantation Sally Johnson said: "The sense of pride families feel at these ceremonies is truly inspirational.

"Everyone I have spoken to is glad that their relative was able to be an organ donor.

"This award is a great chance for us all to recognise their bravery and generosity."

For information visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk."