My First Presentation in a Local School

Today i held a presentation at a local school in Kent and i could not be happier with how it went! I was extremely nervous but i soon calmed down and enjoyed the experience. Knowing who and why i was there helped calm me down! I composed a presentation which included information all about organ donation, statistics, my cousin story, other reallife stories, important facts, as well as videos from youtube including the video i personally composed!

Many questions were asked at end, and many leaflets were taken and filled out there and then! I must admit it was mostly females who took the leaflets however i had lots of reports back saying they are going to go home and talk to their parents about organ donation!

One pupil who really stuck out asked me a question - "why do we have to give consent to give something that we don't need when we are dead?" Such a strong question! I informed about the opt-out situation and he went onto explain how in Ireland unless you carry a card saying no to donation then your organs are taken and donated! BRILLIANT - WE NEED THIS IN ENGLAND!

On an even more positive note - i have been invited back next year to do the same for the up coming year 10's! BRILLIANT! Now i just need to continue to keep hounding other local schools - i need to get into schools1 After today, it is clear that i really did make an impression and that everything i am doing is really worth while!

To back up everything i have done, there is a series on ITV tonight - Have a Heart. I informed the pupils of this so i hope they watch to get more of an insight into the importance of organ donation!

the fundraising begins!

what an amazing turn out we had had for "walk a mile for a smile"

overall we raised over £600 which is all going into my cousins account with the british heart foundation!! a fantastic start!

we cannot thank everyone enough for participating and donating! it was a very emotional, overwhelming and exciting day!

i held a stool in the local cafe displaying all organ donation information and the majority of items were taken! lets hope they have a positive outcome!!

if you could not make the event but would like to donate in memory of my cousin then please do! HOW: type in google "bhf jays campaign" and a link will come up! that is my cousins account! MANY THANKS!

Walk a mile for a smile

On the 2nd February 2013, exactly 1 month after my cousins passing, there is a fundraising event being held in memory of my cousin - WALK A MILE FOR A SMILE. The title says it all, no mater how unwell my cousin was always smiling so please come along, smile and talk about all your memories of my cousin! If you unfortunately id not know my cousin in person then please still come along and talk about how his campaign has inspired you!

If you do not live locally there has been a donation page set up linked directly with the British Heart foundation, please donate, even £1 is a massive help! Thank you!

Date: 2-2-2013
Location - Ramsgate Boating Pool - Kent.
Time- 12noon till 2pm

*PLEASE WEAR SOMETHING RED*

There will be a stool held with further information about organ donation and forms to fill in should you want to sign up there and then to the organ donor register.

We look forward to seeing you all! xx

PLEASE DONATE: https://lastinghope.bhf.org.uk/jayscampaign

A Service to Celebrate His Life

23rd January 2013 - The funeral for my cousin!
A lot of preparation has gone into making sure my cousin has the send off he wanted!

I found it hard to sleep, my emotions all over the place, i really am NEVER going to see my cousin again not speak to him or get 1 last text message from him! Still... i must stay strong!

When I arrived at my uncles house, the atmosphere was strange - I didn't know what to say to anyone and my eyes just filled up with tears! Seeing everyone together was great, but it was all for the wrong reason!

Waiting outside - every second felt like a minute, then....there he was! Excitement came over me - MY COUSIN WAS HERE!!!!! But wait - his not really here is he? Tears flooded down my face! knowing my cousin was inside that car - i just wanted to get him out and see him, just 1 last time!

Turning up to the crematorium was a scene ill never forget! So many people had turned up to say goodbye to an amazing person! It is clear just what an impact my cousin had on everyone he met! People had to stand up and outside as there was not enough room for them all!

The service was as lovely as could be. Instead of a religious service, my cousin wanted a slide show of photos from his life played alongside music - just seeing those photos made me realise again that i wont ever see his face again! Knowing just that fact kills me and the pain i feel in my heart is so intense! However watching the slid show made us all see just what an amazing life my cousin had although cut very short!

The wake was lovely too, speeches were performed by my cousin girlfriend, her father and my cousins best friend. Such an emotional time but they all done so well! My cousin would be proud! It was great listening to all the memories people have of my cousin, however i still want to be making memories! I can only hope this pain fades - if I'm feeling this much pain i cannot but wonder what his girlfriend, children, father and brothers are feeling too!

You were taken too soon but your never be forgotten! You made such an impact on so many peoples lives! Sleep tight cousin - i will always love you! xxxx

My Very Own Leaflets are Complete

Finally Ive managed to complete the leaflets!!!!!! I thought that by designing my own about organ donation it may catch peoples eyes especially when out canvassing! (Arrangements for this are underway) I feel great, everything finally feels like it is all coming together! I have also had several emails back stating that places would like to display my leaflets in order to help!

I hope your proud up there cousin!!! Not a day goes by where i don't think about you!!! I will continue your campaign!! xxxxx

I GOT A REPLY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION+++

FINALLY i got a reply from the department of education and it was POSITIVE news!! They agree that this, my cousins campaign is very important and have provided me with details of all local school and governments to help me get into schools to spread awareness. However the only downside is that this is at the school agreement and could only be done during PSHE sessions. This didn't stop me contacting all local secondary schools and to back up my enquiry i attached a copy of the letter received by the department of education. Today, 15th January 2013 i received a phone call from a local school - THEY ARE HAPPY TO SUPPORT MY CAMPAIGN AND HAVE PENCILLED IN A DATE FOR ME TO GO IN AND SPEAK TO ALL THE YEAR 10 STUDENTS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION! This is brilliant news but... i am not very good at speaking publicly hahaha! I have contacted the organ donation team to see if a professional/volunteer can assist in this session and have prepared leaflets to hand out as well as ordered plenty of stock from the organ donation website. I will keep you all posted on this but so far so good! Hopefully this is the start of good things! All for you Cousin!!!!!

Its been 11 days.....

11 days have now passed since my cousin passed away    :-(
I wish i could say the pain is easing.... but its not! quite the opposite really! Most nights i lay in bed crying myself to sleep! I still just cant bring myself to accept he is gone! I think that continuing his campaign probably doesn't help as i was doing this while he was here so its no different! I also cannot help but think that its the elderly who pass...not a 34 year old?! I'm dreading his funeral, but perhaps it will be closure for me? Or it will hit me straight in the face and actually realise he is gone, i wont see him again, talk to him again, cuddle him again, nor will he be the person there to cheer me up and look out for me like he always did! Only last night i had to text my cousin - i miss texting him everyday! knowing he is ok!
There was an article in the paper again on Friday - but this time the complete opposite to the first! this time it was paying a tribute to my cousin and still trying to get people to sign up!
I really do hope that by making the video, this blog and with all the support of friends and family people will sign up to the organ donor register! I pray no other families will ever have to deal with the amount of pain we all are going through! and the sense of denial!
If your reading this, and not signed up please ask yourself WHY? Is it selfishness, fear that you need to accept that 1 day you too will pass? Or that your organ will go to an alcoholic/drug user? Whatever your reason please take a moment and think what would you do if you needed a new organ? Would you take one if you were lucky enough to have one there for you? If the answer is YES... then think..... would you give 1 back once your time is up? If you could save a young persons life surely that in itself would make you want to sign up?!? Ive signed up - if something unfortunate happened to me then i would be happy knowing that i am saving someone else who is fighting for life needing an organ, just because my time is up doesn't mean someone Else's should be too! Also the fear of organs going to alcoholics or drug users - please consider there background, there may be a reason they have turned to alcohol/drugs- however then think there will more than likely always be a person of more importance than them - the emergency donor list!!!

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/how_to_become_a_donor/registration/consent.asp

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAsV2MbEJFI