Risborough man is the inspiration behind ITV's donor campaign (From Bucks Free Press)

Risborough man is the inspiration behind ITV's donor campaign

7:50am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News By Rebecca Cain

A 20-YEAR-old Bucks man who is recovering from a heart transplant was the inspiration for ITV's organ donor campaign which is running this week.

On Monday ITV launched a campaign called From the Heart to encourage more people to sign up to the Organ Donor register.

And it was Will Pope, from Owlswick- near Princes Risborough who inspired the campaign.

On Monday morning his parents, Rosie and Phil Pope, sat on the Daybreak sofa with Alexandra Burke to talk about the campaign.

At the end of last year Will, who went to The Royal Grammar School, was given just weeks to live. He was finally given a heart transplant on New Year's Eve and is now recovering in hospital.

Rosie said: "We are trying to do something to stop other people in Will's condition having this big problem. There is a great shortage of donors amongst the young- the best protection is to get more to sign up."

It started when the Tonight programme wanted to record Will going through the heart transplant process last November. But when the keen music fan had not received a transplant the programme changed tact slightly to the need for more organ donors.

They then wanted to do a follow up programme, which will be aired at 8pm tonight, and then decided to run this campaign.

At 9pm there is a programme called From the Heart, which features Rowan Atkinson doing a duet with Pixie Lott, Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, Jools Holland, Hugh Laurie, Jo Brand and more.

Rosie said: "Originally I thought- what's the aim- to double the number of organ donors.

"But now I don't think that is right. We want to make it normal and also get people to have the conversation and get people talking about it."

She hopes her son will be out of hospital for Easter. She said she would like more parents to encourage their children to register. Adding: "If you would like to be a recipient then perhaps you should be a donor."

More than 10,000 people in the UK currently need a transplant. Of these 1,000 each year – that's three a day - will die waiting.

To register click here or text SAVE to 84118 or call 0300 123 2323.

To follow Will's progress click here