We had the huge pleasure of talking to Darran Saunders, Founder and Director of programmes of the charity Connors 5, about their brilliant outreach work and her personal experience of organ donation. The Saunders family set up The Connor Saunders Foundation as a legacy to their son and brother, Connor, who tragically died from an unprovoked random act of violence, aged 19.
Conor was an impressively kind and altruistic character who loved football, family and friends, and was duly loved by all in return. As a child he witnessed a professional footballer, Fabrice Muamba, go into cardiac arrest during a match and saw first-hand how the on-site defibrillator saved his life. Deeply moved by this, he helped set up a fundraiser to get one at his local football club, and at the age of 16 also signed up to become an organ donor.
The Saunders’ family honour his memory by running workshops and presentations for school-aged children, providing thought provoking talks and workshops around violence prevention, lifesaving first aid, and organ donation, all in a way that promotes compassion and kindness. They also fundraise for each school, college, or community centre they talk at to be presented with their own on-site defibrillator, helping cardiac arrest survival chances to increase adult survival rates from <10% to between 50% – 70% in the UK, depending on whether there was a shockable heart rhythm. It’s also worth highlighting that on average, 8 young people (<35 years) die each week from sudden cardiac arrest in the Uk due to cardiac abnormalities, sudden death syndrome or sudden cardiac death.
Talking to Darran about their family’s decision to consent to organ donation after Connor’s death was an extremely moving and inspiring one. It certainly wasn’t an easy one to make at such a devastating time, and Darran very much advocates talking to loved ones about your wishes and registration choices ahead of time. Connor’s decision, along with the consent of his family helped to save the lives of five other people (it’s where the 5 comes from in Connor’s 5 and the slogan 5 is Alive!), and Darran speaks openly about how this gives her family some joy.
The current “soft opt-out” organ donation system in England assumes that everyone 18+ is willing to be an organ donor, unless they have specifically opted out, but ultimately the wishes of the family are final. Where wishes aren’t known, less than half of families give their consent for a loved one’s organs to be donated, which is why making your intentions clear is so important!
You can register an informed choice today https://bit.ly/registeryourchoice
The Connor Saunders Foundation fundraises all year round, if you wish, you can donate with JustGiving here.