PRESS RELEASE
June
2013
THE ART
OF DONATION
MOSAICS
depicting a kidney transplant patient’s journey from organ failure to full
health will go on display at Manchester Museum next month.
The
celebrated works of artist Tracey Walshaw will be unveiled to the public on
July 8 in conjunction with National Transplant Week.
The
53-year-old kidney transplant patient hopes her graphic portrayal of the
harrowing process which saved her life will raise awareness about the
importance of organ donation.
Tracey,
from Oldham, began to create mosaics that would chart her journey to recovery
as she suffered renal failure from polycystic kidney disease in late 2011.
She
said: “The gift of a kidney and subsequently the potential for life and a
future for recipients is one of life’s most remarkable gestures.
“No
words can express the gratitude recipients feel towards donors and so through
my art I have found the best way I know of honouring that gift.
“The
exhibition displays the mosaics I created before, during and after my
transplant operation at Manchester Royal Infirmary in January 2012.
“I
am dedicating it to my renal family – my donor, other donors and potential
donors as well as the dedicated staff at MRI.
“I
hope this exhibition will raise awareness about the need for kidney donors.
There are currently more than 500 people in the Greater Manchester area waiting
for a transplant.”
The
exhibition at Manchester Museum has been organised by charity Kidneys For Life,
which raises funds for the Manchester Institute of Nephrology &
Transplantation (MINT) at Manchester Royal Infirmary Renal Units and Royal
Manchester Children’s Hospital.
The
money it raises enables vital research into kidney disease and provides
essential medical equipment, education for renal staff and patient amenities
not funded by the NHS.
The
charity’s fundraising manager Irene Chambers said: “Tracey has not only been
brave enough to come through kidney failure, a transplant and her recovery, but
has also found the courage to detail her journey so she can help others facing
the same ordeal.
“She
is an exceptional person and we are delighted to be able to showcase her
mosaics and story.”
Manchester
Royal Infirmary carries out more than 250 kidney transplant operations each
year and represents more than 13 percent of all kidney, pancreas and islet cell
transplants carried out in the UK.
ENDS
Interviews and photo opportunities can be
arranged.
Photo of one of the exhibits is set out
below.
For
further information please contact either:
Paul
Brenchley, Trustee,
Kidneys for Life fundraising for MINT
Tel: 0161 276 6323 Email: paul.brenchley@manchester.ac.uk
Website: www.kidneysforlife.org
Or
Tracey
Walshaw
Mobile: 07968 009307 Home: 0161 284 7825
Email: traceywalshaw@hotmail.com Website: www.traceywalshawmosaics.com
Or
Natalie
Rodgers, Communications Officer (Division of Specialist Medicine, Division
of Surgery, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and Saint Mary's Hospital), Central
Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Road,
Manchester M13 9WL
Notes
to Editor
Organ Donation &
Transplant Week
This is one of the local events
taking place, organised by Kidneys for Life and supported by NHS Blood
Transplant, around National Transplant Week 2013 (July 8-14). The theme is Pass
It On, focusing on encouraging people to not just sign up to the NHS Organ
Donor Register but to crucially tell their loved ones about their wishes.
While over 90% of families agree
to donation if a loved one is registered AND has discussed their wishes, this
drops to only 40% when donation wishes aren’t known.
Having a conversation about organ
donation is vital as one thousand people a year, that’s three a day, die in the
UK because of a shortage of organs for transplant. There are around 10,000
people currently in need of a transplant.
As well as having the donation
conversation, signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register remains important.
Joining is quick and easy - to register call 0300 123 2323, text DONATE to
62323 or visit www.transplantweek.co.uk.
For more information about National Transplant Week and organ
donation visit www.transplantweek.co.uk. Join www.facebook.com/organdonationuk and
follow us on Twitter @NHSOrganDonor to keep up to date on the latest newsWhile living donation
can help patients, it cannot help everyone, which is why more deceased donors
are needed. Sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register at www.transplantweek.co.uk, contact
0300 123 23 23 or text DONATE to 62323.
·
There
are around 550 people in Greater Manchester currently waiting for a
transplant.
·
Less
than 5 people have died in Greater Manchester in need of a transplant so far in
2013/14 but 35 people died in 2012/13 in Greater Manchester in need of a
transplant
·
84
transplants have taken place so far in 2013/14 in Greater Manchester, there
were 413 in 2012/13. Relating to all
organ donations including kidney, pancreas, heart, lung(s), liver, cornea and
others.
Manchester Museum
As a
university museum, Manchester Museum uses its international collection of human
and natural history for enjoyment and inspiration. Working with people from all
backgrounds, the Museum provokes debate and reflection about the past, present
and future of the earth and its inhabitants. Manchester Museum actively
promotes well-being through a process of education through art appreciation,
object handling and participatory workshops. We work in partnership with health
professionals – often with impressive results, whether for patients or
healthcare professionals themselves.
Manchester
Museum is home to one of the largest and most
important collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the United Kingdom. The
Vivarium houses a wide variety of live animals including frogs, toads, snakes
and other reptiles and amphibians. One of the star attractions in the Museum is
the T.rex, displayed in the pre-historic gallery alongside rare
examples of fossils dating back to the Ice Age.
Manchester
Museum is the UK’s largest university museum and all of its collections are
designated by the government as being of national and international importance.
Manchester Museum,
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL.
T: (0)161 275 2648 F:
(0)161 275 2676 www.manchester.ac.uk/museum
Open: Daily 10am-5pm with FREE ENTRY
Open: Daily 10am-5pm with FREE ENTRY
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