Familiar foes join for organ campaign
Two familiar faces from opposite camps of Merseyside football – David Fairclough and Peter Reid – have put club allegiances to one side in an effort to raise awareness of organ donation.
The former Liverpool and Everton players respectively paid a special visit to the Walton Centre, a hospital trust in the city specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services.
Their joint message was that the greatest signing of the current January transfer window would not be a new star, but instead adding your name to the organ donor register.
Fairclough, whose wife, Jan, was cared for at the Walton Centre before tragically passing away in April 2011, has called for people to achieve 'an amazing thing' by following in his and Reid's footsteps.
The ex-Reds striker said: "Organ donation is an amazing thing. People should speak to their loved ones about it and make it clear what their wishes are.
"Although we'd discussed it, when Jan passed away I didn't know she had registered. It's a very emotional thing but Jan has changed the lives of eight people. All my family are on the register now."
Upon his visit to the Walton Centre, Reid - once a tough-tackling midfielder on the other side of Stanley Park - immediately added his name to the list and explained the importance of doing so.
He said: "Organ donation means that something fantastic can come out of a terrible situation, when a loved one loses their life. There's always a need for organs.
"We've all got parts of our bodies which could help people who are in desperate need. I recognise the importance of it. It's giving life to people - that's what it's all about."
If you would like to join the organ donor register, click here to visit the NHS website or call 0300 123 2323.