ADELAIDE 36ERS HELP TRANSFORM RAH INTO A RAINBOW OF SPORT COLOURS FOR ORGAN DONATION

The Adelaide 36ers are supporting Royal Adelaide Hospital staff - from doctors and nurses to caterers and cleaners – to wear their favourite sporting team’s colours for an important cause on September 1.

The 36ers are helping Celsus, the company that operates non-clinical services at the RAH, to raise greater community awareness of Jersey Day – a national day aimed at starting conversations with loved ones about choices around organ and tissue donation.

Celsus CEO Di Mantell said RAH employees were being encouraged to wear their basketball singlets, football guernseys, netball tops and soccer jerseys to work to help get people talking about organ donation before it’s too late.

Latest national data from DonateLife shows that fewer families are consenting to organ donation on behalf of a dying loved one. Not knowing a loved one’s organ donation options is one of the identified barriers to family consent.

“Anything workplaces, particularly those in health settings like hospitals, can do to encourage conversations about organ donation will definitely save lives,” said Ms Mantell, a former intensive care unit nurse and a Geelong Football Club fan.

DonateLife South Australia medical director Dr Stewart Moodie said: “Even though South Australia leads the country in donor registration, with around 70 per cent of our community registered, it remains essential that we also speak to our family so they are aware of our wishes.”

Dr Moodie “profoundly” thanked the 39 Australian families who agreed to organ donation from the loss of a loved one last year, saving and improving the lives of 100 people.

New Adelaide 36ers signing Alex Starling said: “It’s great to be able to wear your jersey to work and support your team for a great cause.”

Starling’s older brother underwent a kidney transplant after 10 years on dialysis waiting for an organ match. “We have to appreciate life and live life to the fullest and if we can show some support and awareness, let’s all wear our jerseys on the day,” said Starling.

Jersey Day is held each year in honour of 13-year-old rugby player Nathan Gremmo who was killed in a road accident in 2015. Five people and a baby received Nathan’s organs after his family consented to one of his final wishes. Weeks before his death, Nathan had watched a documentary on organ donation and talked to his father about what a wonderful gift it was to give someone a second chance at life.

To become an organ donor, join the Australian Organ Donor Register at www.donatelife.gov.au