A north-east fundraiser is working to raise awareness of the need for organ donors – while raising money for the transplant unit.
Lindsay Cameron has arranged the fundraiser after seeing first hand the importance of transplants, following her mother’s life-saving operation.
A Guid Nicht Oot will be held in Ellon, with a raft of traditional Scottish entertainment lined up.
Miss Cameron’s mother, Audrey, had a liver transplant in May 2017 and was last week the focus of an NHS Grampian film about such operations.
Mrs Cameron, from Hatton, said: “I only had to wait about 10 days for my transplant.
“I had the operation in Edinburgh and the care was amazing, the staff were all really helpful – I was really lucky that everything went so well.
“It is so important for people to sign up for the register.”
Now her daughter hopes to help other families “in the same boat” by raising funds for the Edinburgh Transplant Unit and Aberdeen Liver Clinic by hosting the fundraiser.
Guests will enjoy an array of entertainment at the Station Hotel on February 1.
She said: “The event is months away but we really hope we can get a good attendance and encourage people to sign up.
“There will be local dance groups, local acts, some pipers – it will be a really nice evening.
“Organ donation saves lives and we just want to try raise as much awareness as possible.”
Dr Paul Gamble, clinical lead for organ donation for NHS Grampian, urged people to have a conversation with their families about organ donation.
He said: ”I would encourage everyone to think about their views on organ donation, and to talk about them with their family and loved ones.
“It is much more likely you will need a transplant rather than become an organ donor, but it is still important those close to you know what your wishes are, because one day this may save another person’s life.
“Scotland has the highest sign up rate to the Organ Donor Register in the UK. We know in Grampian our rates are above even the Scottish average. We still need more people to come forward and, crucially, have a conversation about this with their loved ones.”
Tickets for a Guid Nicht Oot are available now, priced £10 which includes stovies. For more information, e-mail lindztwo@live.co.uk or visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-guid-nicht-oot-tickets-70013788125