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Emma Harris and her husband Brad are delighted with the success of their Live Life Then Give Life campaign

THE organ donor appeal Live Life Then Give Life launched by cystic fibrosis sufferer Emma Harris is so successful it is seeking registration as a charity.

Mrs Harris, 33, from Pewsey, began the campaign in March 2006 with her friend Emily Thackary, 23, from Surrey, who also suffers from the debilitating genetic lung disease cystic fibrosis.

Since then their campaign has gone from strength to strength and the women feel the addition of charity status will further help them in their aim of raising awareness of the importance of organ donation.

The current life expectancy for cystic fibrosis sufferers in the UK is 31 and Mrs Harris has seen many of her friends suffering with the disease die before they can get a life saving double lung transplant.

Emily Thackary herself was facing death when a new pair of lungs became available. She had her transplant operation at the world famous Harefield Hospital in January last year.

Mrs Harris said: "She is doing fantastically. She is absolutely glowing with health, it is incredible the difference it has made."

Emily was married last November and Mrs Harris and her husband Brad, who is her full time carer, were among the guests.

But for another friend, Lisa, the wait for a pair of lungs goes on after seven false alarms from the transplant surgeons and last minute disappointments.

Mrs Harris, who has become an active member of Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatic Society, said: "She is close to giving up and it has really set her back."

The Live Life Then Give Life campaign has already achieved national TV coverage and Mrs Harris has addressed MPs at the House of Commons and the Scottish Assembly about the need to encourage more people to become organ donors.

She is making plans to speak to the Welsh Assembly as well.

Last year Mr and Mrs Harris helped organise a Laughter For Life show in London featuring top comics, including Bill Bailey, and raising £21,000 for the campaign.

Bailey has maintained his support for the campaign and is helping plan another fund raising show, at a date still to be confirmed. "Bill Bailey is definitely up there for it again this year," said Mrs Harris.

There would be several advantages in making the campaign into a registered charity, said Mrs Harris.

"Registration will enable us to claim back Gift Aid and allow us to raise larger amounts of money per year than we can do without registered status," she added.

The charity would give the campaign a proper footing and whereas she and Emily have so far foot the bills for leaflets and posters those costs would be taken care of.

"We are really working to get the charity up together," Mrs Harris said.

She and Emily have started sending balloons to cystic fibrosis sufferers who are very ill or waiting for a transplant.

"When people get false alarms and get called in for surgery which is then cancelled they get very down and we often find that they give up," Mrs Harris said.

Her husband added: "The balloons help them keep their spirits up."

More can be found about the campaign on its website www.livelifethengivelife.co.uk

10:40am Thursday 14th February 2008

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