Organ donors from Harrow were celebrated at a moving ceremony hosted by the Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Anjana Patel. The event in the Mayor’s Parlour on 24 September marked Organ Donation Week with a powerful message: every donor is a hero.
The ceremony honoured two families whose loved ones gave the gift of life through organ donation after death, as well as six individuals who have donated a kidney while living. Organised by the Mayor in partnership with the National BAME Transplant Alliance (NBTA), and supported by NHS Blood and Transplant and the NHS, the event spotlighted the urgent need for more donors and the incredible impact of those who step forward.
Cllr Anjana Patel said: “It is incredibly important that we mark Organ Donation Week and recognise the selfless acts of those who have given the gift of life. It was a privilege to celebrate these remarkable individuals and their families.”
National figures reveal a sobering reality: the organ transplant waiting list is at its highest, with one person dying every day while waiting for a suitable donor. In Harrow alone, 61 patients are currently waiting – most in need of a kidney. While 11 Harrow residents received transplants in 2025/26, only 27% of locals are registered to donate their organ after death on the Organ Donor Register.
Kirit Modi, MBE, Hon President of NBTA, and a Harrow resident, said: “We urgently need more Harrow residents to sign the organ donor register and to help save lives. Most of us would accept an organ if we needed one. We are delighted to honour the Harrow donor families and donors today. We hope their powerful stories will encourage more people to register on the Organ Donor Register.”
“It has been a pleasure to work with the Mayor of Harrow to promote organ donation, and I am most grateful to Cllr Anjana Patel for her amazing support.”
The event featured inspiring talks from healthcare professionals and community leaders who have long championed organ donation. Speakers included:
- Laura Kendall, Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation at Northwick Park Hospital
- Harvinder Dulku, Living Kidney Donor Coordinator at Hammersmith Hospital
- Dr Dela Idowu, Founder of Gift of Life Donation (GOLD)
- Manhar Mehta, Chairman of Vanik Council UK (VCUK)
- Prafula Shah, Chair of the Jain and Hindu Organ Donation Alliance (JHOD)
Their stories and advocacy underscored a shared mission: to build awareness, break down barriers, and encourage more people to say yes to organ donation.
Rachel Rowson, Regional Head of Nursing for London for NHSBT said: “This Organ Donation Week (22–28 September), we want to highlight just how vital it is for people to confirm their decision to be an organ donor, because that choice can save and transform lives. With the urgent reality that someone dies every day waiting for a transplant, our campaign is a call for everyone to pause and reflect. If you would accept an organ to save your own life or the life of a loved one, please consider making the same decision to give others that chance”.
Varsha Siyani was one of the living kidney donors honoured by the Mayor. She donated a kidney to her brother, and both are doing well.
Varsha Siyani said: “Donating a kidney has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. It’s a gift of life, and I hope more people, especially from Asian communities, will consider it because every donor has the power to change someone’s world”.
Further details
Registering on the Organ Donor Register can be done easily by using the NHS App, by visiting the website organdonation.nhs.uk or by phoning 0300 123 23 23.
For media queries please contact Kirit Modi, NBTA, kiritmodi1@hotmail.com