The Yorkshire Organ Donation Team prepared for an extraordinary cycling endeavour, covering a distance of 70 miles (approximately 113 km). The team raced against time to raise awareness about the vital need for organ donation.
The challenge is for colleagues in the NHS to accumulate miles through sporting activities, and the team aspires to be the first to reach the regional milestone of 50,000 km, representing the number of people living with a transplant in the UK.
Setting off from Pinderfields Hospital, the cyclists embarked on the demanding route through Wakefield and York, concluding their day at St James University Hospital in Leeds.
The cycling team comprised of ICU consultants, junior doctors, and members of the organ donation committee from Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, York Teaching Hospital, and Hull University Teaching Hospital.
Taking place during Organ Donation Week 2023, the cycle was part of the broader ‘Race for Recipients’ challenge set by NHS Blood and Transplant. Mid Yorkshire colleagues amassed 630 miles from the ride towards the regional goal.
Helen Buglass, Intensive Care Unit Doctor and the lead for Organ Donation at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust said; “Organ donation is a lifesaving act that has the power to transform the lives of those in need. Being able to do our part in raising awareness for organ donation through the Race for Recipients challenge has been great.
“As a team, we are committed to raising awareness and increasing the number of registered donors, which is why we have taken on the 70-mile challenge. By pedalling these miles, we hope to inspire conversations about organ donation and make a positive impact on the lives of recipients and their families.”
For more information on organ donation and how you can make a difference, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk.
