Save a life - get a passeport de vie!

(JB) Fans will have a chance to meet their sporting heroes this Sunday at an all-day event to raise awareness about organ donation.

Footballer Jeff Strasser and cyclist Kim Kirchen will be among the famous faces in a star-studded line-up at this year's indoor cycling event at LuxExpo, in Kirchberg.

The sporting event marks World Organ Donation day, a date aimed at encouraging people around the world to discuss if they wish to donate their organs after their death in order to save the life of another.

These kinds of discussions have never been more important for Luxembourg where there is a crucial shortage of organ donors, compared with the demand. In 2009 no organs were available for transplants in Luxembourg and in 2010 there were just three.

Despite the fact that the country pursues an opt-out transplant system, by which patients who die are automatically qualified as organ donors, medical services will not remove organs without the approval of family members.

Coordinator of the Luxembourg Transplant Association Jorge de Sousa explained: “Despite important advances in transplantation medicine in the world, the shortage of organs for transplantation remains the limiting factor for organ transplants. In 2009, while 23 potential donors were identified, no organ donations were made in Luxembourg. In most cases, the refusal by the families of deceased patients was the limiting factor.”

Luxembourg Transplant encourages families and couples to discuss whether they would like to become organ donors after their death and to carry the Passport for Life, a document the size of a credit card on which an individual can state if they wish to be an organ donor.

Mr de Sousa said: “These poor statistics demonstrate once again the need to speak of the gift and the removal of organs within the family. The failure of an individual to make their position known to their family makes the work of hospital staff difficult and forces the family to make a decision, which is often painful.”

The third Indoor Cycling for Organ Transplant event will be held from 10am to 6pm. Members of the public are encouraged to take part.

Among participants already registered to take part are health minister Mars di Bartolomeo, cyclists Bob Jungels and Benoit Joachim, handball star Jeff Decker, former Karate champion and now deputy Tessy Scholtes, footballers Daniel da Mota, Eric Hoffmann and René Peters and actress Desiree Nosbusch.

To find out more or to obtain a passport de vie, call (+352) 4411-6212 or visit www.dondorganes.public.lu