OVER 77,000 SIGNATURES!!!

So as of 15 minutes ago Wales OFFICIALLY introduced the "Soft Opt-out" system. It will be interesting to see how easy the transition is and how the Welsh react. I am delighted to announce the rest of the UK may not be so far behind. I have very EXCITING NEWS. Earlier in the summer change.org contacted me as there had been a fair amount of activity on my petition and they wanted to see if I knew there were other campaigner on change.org fighting for the same end goal - I was aware but explained I had wanted to start my own as following my MPs advice I knew it was addressed to the right people ad also imagined it was unlikely he would raise the petition of someone outside his constituency in the House of Commons. Change.org then asked if I would like to put in touch with the other campaigners - it was then it occurred I could collaborate with other campaigners, two or even three or more heads put together are better than one. And when John Glen confirmed this was possible I decided to find out if this was something fellow campaigners were interested in doing. I am delighted to announce Tracey Frankland-Wilson, Samantha Brooker and I have combined out signature totals. Tracey Frankland-Wilson started her petition back in 2013 after her daughter Skye received a lifesaving heart transplant aged six years-old, and Tracey now has a whopping 70,110 signatures and counting. You may already be familiar with Samantha Brooker's name. Her partner Aaron Cavanagh was featured on the Channel 5 programme "Gift of Life" back in October. Aaron suffered from cystic fibrosis and the programme followed his journey as he waited for a double lung transplant. Heartbreakingly despite being called in several times for a potential transplant he never received one. His partner Samantha is determined for something positive to come out of his untimely death, and only a few weeks ago began campaigning for the "Soft Opt-out" system to be introduced in the rest of the UK as well. However, because Samantha's petition is done through the government website she only has 6 months to gain the 100,000 signatures she needs for it to be debated in the House of Commons. Our deadline is 27th April 2016. Samantha already has a phenomenal 5,478 signatures. Add in my current 2,159. All three of us combined have a GRAND TOTAL of 77, 747 Therefore only have to get 22,253 between us by 27th April next year. So I know I always say it but please if you can keep Sharing this petition it really makes all the difference - it is only through your support we have made this much progress so far - every signature is important. To find out more about Tracey and Samantha's stories click the links to their petitions below: Tracey: https://www.change.org/p/department-of-health-switch-to-the-opt-out-system-for-organ-donation Samantha: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/111185 Thank you for taking the time to read this. I cannot express how much everyone backing this campaign means to me. Kindest regards Lucy Ryan