The mother of a St Andrews University student who died after falling through the skylight of a shop during a night out has thanked kind-hearted students for helping her promote organ donation.
Alex Richardson (21), from Newmarket in Suffolk, crashed through the window at the Home Improvements Mica Homestore in St Andrews on March 24 2009.
He sustained head injuries and was treated at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and released, but he deteriorated rapidly and was taken back to hospital where he was placed on a life support machine. He died two days later.
He was in his third year studying French and Spanish.
His mother, Annie Richardson, had the idea of the university’s Organ Donation Society teaming up with NHS Blood and Transplant to raise awareness of organ donation among its students and staff.
Mrs Richardson said: “Alex loved St Andrews and as a family it seems appropriate to us that the university partnership scheme is being launched here.
“The loss of a child for any family is devastating but it gives us some comfort that his organs have helped change the lives of four people, especially the man who received his very special heart. The message going forward is, Think about the ODR Talk about the ODR Act and register for the ODR.”
Launched this week as a pilot scheme, the partnership is the first of its kind between NHS Blood and Transplant and a university society.
The president of the Organ Donation Society at St Andrews, Nicole Imray, said: “We are delighted to have been asked by NHS Blood and Transplant to be their first university organ donation society partner.
“Creating this society was an exciting challenge and provides the opportunity to spread the word about organ donation and get more information out there.”
The partnership aims to increase the number of young people who join the NHS Organ Donor Register. It will also promote the importance of discussing their wishes with their friends and families.
During the coming year, the St Andrews’ Organ Donation Society will test the effectiveness of its campaign, which will help in the foundation of similar partnerships with universities across the UK.
There are 10,000 people in the UK waiting for an organ transplant and three people die every day because there are not enough organs available.
For more information on the register, visit organdonation.nhs.uk.