[caption id=“attachment_5566” align=“alignright” width=“300”] Louis Thompson supporting organ donation initiative[/caption] The Organ Donation campaign has gathered momentum in Swindon since the tragic death of Rhiannon Brown in January. Rhiannon was Swindon Town’s U16’s Goalkeeper and had the maturity and compassion to sign up as an organ donor. Her selfless action has improved the lives of three people after donating her organs following her untimely death. Dad Jason said: ​“She was an organ donor and we received word from Oxford Brookes to thank us and let us know that all of the operations have gone really well.” ​“There have been three transplants and none have been rejected which is great news. Because she was only 15 we had to give our approval but the fact she was a donor sums her up. She is still being an inspiration to people, and we have had parents come up to us saying that their little girl wants to be an organ donor because they heard what Rhiannon had done.” In her honour Swindon Town FC Football in the Community Trust is pledging support for NHS Blood and Transplant’s Sign for Life campaign by asking fans and the local community to show the red card to organ transplant waiting lists. Whatever the match results, we want fans to talk to their friends and family and tell them they have been inspired to join the Organ Donor Register. There are currently around 7,000 people waiting for a transplant across the UK. That’s equivalent to over 630 football teams. The fact is there are simply not enough organs available for patients that need them. One organ donor can transform the lives of up to nine people. If more families agreed to donate their loved one’s organs, more lives could be saved. Anthony Clarkson, Assistant Director for Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant said, ​“We are asking all football fans on match day to take a moment to reflect 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 Swindon Town FC is supporting this campaign to encourage their fans to join the Organ Donor Register, showing that they want to save and improve the lives of others.” ​“If we are to reduce the number of people who die whilst waiting for an organ, we need more families to agree to organ donation. Football is our national sport and if Swindon Town fans can be inspired by their passion for the game to support organ donation, they would offer hope to all those waiting for a transplant.” Louis Thompson, Midfielder at Swindon Town said, ​“As a team, we are delighted to be supporting NHS Blood and Transplant’s campaign to encourage Swindon Town fans and their friends and family to join the Organ Donor Register. We are asking our fans to get behind the campaign and commit to donating their organs. It’s amazing to think that there are currently more than 100,000 people living in the UK who have received a transplant during their lifetime. If we brought them together they would more than fill the County Ground six times over.” Swindon Town fans are encouraged to join the NHS Organ Donor Register by visiting www.organdonation.nhs.ukhttp://bit.ly/1zaS3Hf or calling 0300 123 23 23 and to tell their families their decision. Fans can also join the conversation online by using the campaign hash tag #organdonor and can follow us on Twitter @NHSOrganDonor. • For additional information please contact Natalie Smart on 01923 366 844 or Pauline O’Brien on 01923 367 669. • For out of hours enquiries please call: 0117 969 2444.