SATURDAY PITSTOP WITH ESSEX FORD BILLERICAY – 19.4.8

Being able to run a marathon in under four hours may be the yardstick between serious and fun runner.  Completing the London Marathon in three hours and 53 minutes as your fastest time since undergoing a heart transplant marks a truly serious achievement.

Today's Saturday Pitstop on Phoenix FM welcomed Ernesto Antonio, of Brentwood, and Joan Bell, of Wickford, on air.  Ernesto appeared six days after this year's London Marathon – his fourth 26 mile 385 yard race since receiving a new heart nine years ago.

Joan is also a sporting star, playing badminton for the UK transplant team and training for the 1,500m.  Ten years ago she had a kidney transplant and has since proved the operation granted a new lease of life by competing in international transplant games in Thailand last year and is training currently for Australia 2009.

Both Ernesto (pictured left) and Joan spoke of the urge to contact the families of their donors, but having to respect their wishes if the wish for contact is not reciprocated.  And they champion an 'opt out' donor system, requiring people to declare if they do not want to donate organs in the event of premature death, rather than our 'opt in' process.

Requiring potential donors to fill out and carry a donor card results in an organ shortage leaving 7,250 in Britain on the transplant waiting list.  Around 2,700 transplant operations do take place a year – almost 25 years on from the first transplant in 1954.  Today cornea, bone marrow, pancreas and small bowel transplants are carried out alongside kidney, heart, liver and lung donations.

More at www.uktransplant.org.uk

From Essex Ford Billericay

Show sponsors Essex Ford Billericay will reward Phoenix FM listeners with a £25 Debenhams gift card when a Ford aged three years or older is booked in for a £99 value service.

Phone Carol in Essex Ford service on 01277 652242 or go to www.essexford.com

Article by Oliver Rowe, 20 Apr 2008
Posted in Saturday Morning with Oliver Rowe

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