FRIDAY, 10 OCTOBER, 2014

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ANGIE SHANNON WRAPS UP WARM FOR KIDNEY DISEASE

Wrap Up Warm for Kidney Disease

NHS Tayside is supporting a campaign to encourage people to Wrap Up Warm for Kidney Disease.

To raise awareness of the condition, people are being asked to put on a hat, scarf and as many layers as possible on 12 October and post a ‘selfie’ on Facebook.

Angie Shannon, who is being treated for kidney disease, started the Facebook campaign with fellow members of the Women’s Renal Support Group to improve understanding of the condition and encourage people to sign up to the Organ Donor Register.

During the campaign, the Wrap Up Warm Facebook page is also being updated with advice and information on kidney disease.

Angie, who has undergone a kidney transplant and has been a regular patient at Ninewells Hospital, said, “Feeling cold is a very common complaint for renal patients and even in hot summer, people may not feel warm. This is mostly due to the anaemia that kidney disease causes.

“We hope people will help us by having fun and taking part in the Wrap Up Warm for Kidney Disease campaign.

“We are not looking for cash donations, we just hope it raises awareness so that people will understand more about the difficulties of coping with this disease and what symptoms people should look out for.

“The main thing we want to do is to encourage more people to consider signing up to be an organ donor.

“Although not a cure, a kidney transplant is the best treatment for a person in end stage kidney failure.

“We have already had a lot of support for the campaign and we hope that we can get even more across Tayside on 12 October.”

NHS Tayside Transplant Co-ordinator Irene Russell said, “This is an excellent campaign and is a fun way to raise awareness about kidney disease.

“The statement Wrap up Warm is relevant to many patients with kidney disease as they often feel cold.

“We would ask people to support Angela and the campaign by sending a ‘selfie’ via Facebook.

“Although 40% of people in Scotland have signed up to the Organ Donor Register – a 4% increase in the last two years - there are still 6,901 patients waiting for a transplant. We would ask people to consider joining the NHS Organ Donor Register and talk to your family and friends and let them know your wishes.”

You can post your ‘selfie’ on the Wrap Up Warm for Kidney Disease Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wrap-Up-Warm-For-Kidney-Disease/1451864165095884

Contact:

Debbie Huband

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740134