Bolton: Young mum's family launch organ donor fundraisers

Zoe Greenhalgh was aged just 25 when she died in 2002 after suffering with a brain tumour.

In life she had been a champion for organ donation and now her family hope to honour her legacy with a series of challenges.

Zoe’s son Alex Greenhalgh, 23, said: “Through my mum’s campaigning she boosted potential donor registrations by more than 11,000, donated her body to medical sciences for research and donated her eyes so that four other people would be given the gift of sight.

“To this day that drives me every single day to do my best.

Zoe with baby Alex (Image: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust)

“It’s our duty and an honour to carry on her work, and the fact it’s more than 20 years on it feels more important more than ever to keep reminding people how important organ donation can be.

“Just before she died my mum spoke about how proud she was that she could help others after she’d gone, and to get people thinking and talking about donation.”

Alex was only aged two when he lost his mother but has learned about what an incredible person she was from family members.

Now he and the rest of Zoe’s loved ones will be raising money for Our Bolton NHS Charity to raise money for specialist organ donation training for healthcare staff.

Zoe's son Alex, parents John and Jackie and sister Vicky (Image: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust)

In April, Alex will run the Manchester Marathon with a message about organ donation and a picture of Zoe on his t-shirt.

He said: “I feel ready for the race as I’ve been keeping up with my training plan.

"It’s my first marathon so the focus is to cross the finish line rather than set any record times.

“I’m no born athlete so it’s going to be a huge challenge, my hope is to finish in less than five hours.

"I’ll be gleaming in the atmosphere on the day as Manchester always turns out in such big numbers to offer that support from the sidelines.”

Alex also hopes to help remove barriers for young people to talk about death and organ donation.

He said: “Education and training will be really meaningful by sharing understanding and setting up a base for knowledge that can be passed among others.

“We hope to raise awareness across Bolton where all nurses have an understanding to make it easier to have those conversations about donating organs after death.

“Donation can be heroic as you are giving people a better life after you have gone, one last act of kindness.”

But before Alex’s marathon, Zoe’s cousin Dave Wilkinson will be aiming to raise £1,000 by embark on an 837-mile journey from John O’Groats to Lands’ End by motorbike, in less than twenty-four hours on Saturday March 11.

He said: “Riding in this cold snap and potential snow in the far north of Scotland only adds to my challenge, but it’s one I’ve always wanted to do and fundraising for organ donation gives it purpose.

“Zoe was one of a kind and there was nothing she was scared of talking about.

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“Even though she knew what was coming, she was brave and knew that she had to help others.

“I’m passionate about keeping that legacy going, reminding people about why organ donation is so important and that it can have a positive difference by giving someone else a second chance in life.”

The family hope that the money they raise can be used to invest in organ donation simulation training for hospital and community staff to improve the experience for other families who experience bereavement.

Anyone who wants to support the family can visit their JustGiving crowdfunding page.