WRD donates to a charity every year and this year we have chosen the Southampton Children’s Hospital’s charity for the Transplant Games 2026.
Matti, the son of one of our PPC directors Stefan, went through a kidney transplant at the age of 6 after months of dialysis and multiple operations since birth. The British Transplant Games have become an important fixture for him ever since. It’s a time where he can connect with other children in a similar situation and the exercise is an especially important way to help his new kidney last as long as possible.
His family created this video a couple of years ago to help raise funds to enable all children with transplants to benefit from the British Transplant Games. This video has since been used by the hospital to promote the games and WRD has setup our donations page here:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/wrd-transplant-games-2026
The video describes what all these children have to go through and all of them will need at least one more transplant during their lifetime.
The British Transplant Games
The British Transplant Games is an annual event promoting the positive effects of sport on transplant recipients. It is an amazing opportunity for children to compete on an even playing field; training, participating, winning, and losing.
In 2026, the games will take place in Sheffield, and you can read more about it on their website: https://www.transplantactive.co.uk/britishtransplantgames/sheffield2026
Register Your Organ Donation Decision
Across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, organ donation operates under an opt-out system. Under these rules, most adults are automatically considered to have agreed to donate their organs when they die, unless they explicitly choose to opt out or belong to an excluded group.
While the system assumes consent, your family will always be consulted by specialist NHS nurses before any donation proceeds. Because medical teams respect family input, the most vital thing you can do as an individual is make your wishes crystal clear:
- Register Your Decision: Take a minute to record your official choice on the NHS Organ Donor Register or via the NHS App. You can opt in, choose to donate specific organs and tissues (such as your kidneys), or record a decision to opt out.
- Talk to Your Loved Ones: The single most crucial step is having an open conversation with your family. Knowing your exact decision gives your loved ones peace of mind and ensures they can confidently honour your wishes when the time comes.
- Update Anytime: Your preferences aren’t set in stone. You can log into your account and amend or reaffirm your decision at any point in the future.
Southampton Hospitals Charity
Southampton Hospitals Charity is committed to enhancing healthcare in Southampton and beyond by supporting patients, families, and NHS staff in multiple ways.
In the hospital, we fund essential equipment, improve the environment, and enhance patient care to make the experience better for everyone during treatment.
In the community, we collaborate with hospital services and partners to help people stay healthy at home, reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and re-admissions.
For our NHS staff, we invest in their wellbeing and professional development by improving facilities and providing training opportunities, ensuring they are equipped to deliver the highest standard of care.
Finally, through research, we fund ground-breaking studies and clinical innovation, enabling Southampton’s leading researchers to advance treatments and improve outcomes across a wide range of medical fields. Together, we aim to make a lasting difference in healthcare for our community.
