Jonathan Ross, David Baddiel and Rubens Barrichello join fight to save Jessica Wales
by Martin Jefferies
Brave young Westgate woman Jessica Wales is facing a race
against time as a host of celebrities join a last-minute
web campaign to find her a double
lung donor.
The 20-year-old (pictured right, photograph courtesy Sarah
Milne), who suffers from cystic fibrosis, has been waiting for a
transplant since 2005 and has already defied doctors by outliving a
terrifying initial prognosis of just two years.
But her health has deteriorated rapidly since taking part in the
adidas Women’s 5k Challenge last month, during which she
raised £1,500 for charity.
She spent 12 days at King’s College Hospital, London, where her
breathing was supported by a ventilator. During the crisis, her
friends said she was fighting for every breath.
Her tragic story has inspired a string of celebrities, including
TV star Jonathan Ross, comedians David Baddiel and Matthew Horne
and Formula 1 racing driver Rubens Barrichello.
Other famous faces hoping for a full recovery include
singer Beverley Knight, Britain’s Got Talent finalists Diversity
and the Prime Minister’s wife, Sarah Brown.
They have all helped spread the word since reading about
Jessica’s plight on Twitter. Campaigners believe the social
networking tool has helped reach four million people in a single
week.
Campaign organiser Sarah Milne said: "[Jessica's] sheer
stubbornness is what's keeping her alive at the moment. Every
breath is like the end of a marathon."
Audio: Hear Sarah Milne
talking about Jessica Wales's plight
Emily Thackray, who chairs the transplant charity Live Life Then Give Life (LLTGL),
said: "It’s galling to know that a whole new life could lie ahead
of Jess but that people’s apathy towards organ donation might mean
she never gets to experience it."
Of the 8,000 Britons on transplant lists, three will die every
day waiting for a suitable donor, according to LLTGL. Around a
quarter of the UK population will help others after their death by
donating organs.
To join the Organ Donor Register, visit the UK transplant
website or phone 0300 123 2323.
Wednesday, September 30 2009