One of the most respected and all-day charity major events in Exmouth is to celebrate its 10th anniversary in July.
Event organizer Steve Gazzard said he wanted to make this year's organ donation awareness fundraiser “really special” and wins £35,000 he's already grown up for medical research over the past decade.
But to do so, you'll need more local traders and charities to book the food stalls. He is sought for Tombora prizes, and he may also offer a vehicle for display, a hopeful classic car owner.
He also pledges to continue the organ donor sign-up campaign until the organ donation law becomes “crystal clear.”
The National Organ Donor and Transplant Awareness Event will be on the chain, Saturday, July 26th, from 10am to 4pm. There is also a Sign up event in Exmouth This Saturday, May 31st.
It is only 37 years old to commemorate Exmouth's mother, Sarah Wright, who died in November 2012 with a rare lung condition.
Since her death, her father, Steve Gazzard, has been working to raise awareness of the chronic lung condition of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), where Sarah died, and to encourage people to sign up for organ donation.
Sarah was on the waiting list for a double lung transplant, which was able to save her life but could not find a suitable donor.
Instead, Sarah donated her own organs the night she passed away, saving the lives of three other people.
Now, almost 13 years after her daughter's death, with the 10th anniversary of the charity event, and as her memory is fast approaching, Gazzard is pulling out all the stops.
“It's a huge opportunity, so we want it to be really special,” Gazzard said. “It's meant to be a fun day, but there's also a serious message.”
Gazard says there are currently a lot of availability and there are more food stalls to book.
“We are in May now, and it won’t take long for the event to be here, so I would like to make it a good vote.
“We are also looking for people who can donate prizes – we have a giant Tombola food stall – and for those who have a classic car that can get off that day. Classic cars are real pulls.”
Gazzard says he expects firefighters and local police to be present, but that will depend on “operational needs.”
Funds raised from the event will go to the Saralite Research Program, which is seeking treatment for IPF. “We've raised nearly 35,000 pounds over the past decade, which is amazing,” Gazzard said.
“Unfortunately, the disease has moved from the older generation to the younger generation, and no one knows why. So we'll set up this research program and see if they can find out why.”
Changes to the law may be unknown
Another important objective of this event is to raise the profile of the National Transplant Organ Donor Sign-up Campaign. The organ donation law was changed in May 2020, but it is believed that all adults in the UK agree to donate their organs unless they opt out. Gazzard says some people are unaware of the change. Some families have also managed to overturn their desire to donate organs.
“I thought 2020 was over,” he said. “But unfortunately, there are relatives who say they didn't talk about it because they didn't know about the changes in the law, so we started signing up again.
“We all recycle at home. For me, organ donation is just another way of recycling. Sarah managed to donate two kidneys and livers, saving three lives, so she lives in the other three. She won't give up the organ donor sign-up campaign.
Potential food stall owners, classic car owners, and those who received the Tombora Award for fundraising on July 26th, please email exmouth.organdon@gmail.com
Or call Steve Gazzard on 07779 960199
