Organ donors from Harrow were celebrated in a heartfelt ceremony held on 24th September at the Mayor’s Parlour as a part of Organ Donation Week.Hosted by the Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Anjana Patel, the event spotlighted the selflessness of individuals and families who have made the life-saving decision to donate their organs.
Speaking at the even, Prafula Shah, Chair of JHOD, shared JHOD’s commitment to encouraging individuals from the Jain and Hindu communities to consider organ donation, explaining, “Organ donation is an act of compassion that transcends cultural and religious boundaries. We are proud to support this essential work to help raise awareness and save lives. With the waiting lists at its highest, I hope that our communities will continue to open their hearts to giving the gift of life – transforming and saving lives.”
Organised in partnership with the National BAME Transplant Alliance (NBTA) and NHS Blood and Transplant, the event honoured the memory of two families whose loved ones gave the gift of life through organ donation after death. Six living kidney donors were also recognised for their extraordinary acts of kindness. Cllr Anjana Patel expressed her gratitude to the donors and their families, and 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 statistics paint a stark reality: the organ transplant waiting list is at its highest with 8,000 people now waiting for a transplant and one person dying every day while waiting for a suitable donor. In Harrow alone, 61 patients are currently waiting for an organ transplant, with the majority in need of a kidney. Despite 11 Harrow residents receiving transplants in 2025/26, only 27% of local people are currently registered on the Organ Donor Register.
Kirit Modi, MBE, Honorary President of the NBTA and a Harrow resident, highlighted the urgent need for more local donors. “We urgently need more Harrow residents to sign the organ donor register and help save lives,” Modi said. “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 as donors.”
The ceremony also featured moving speeches from various healthcare professionals and community leaders, who have long advocated for organ donation.
Speakers included:
Prafula Shah, Chair of the Jain and Hindu Organ Donation Alliance (JHOD)
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)
Rachel Rowson, Regional Head of Nursing for London at NHS Blood and Transplant, reinforced the urgency of registering as a donor. “This Organ Donation Week, 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,” Rowson said. “If you would accept an organ to save your own life or that of a loved one, please consider making the same decision to give others that chance.”
Among the living kidney donors honoured at the ceremony was Varsha Siyani, who donated a kidney to her brother.
Both are doing well after the successful transplant. Varsha shared her personal experience, saying, “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.”
The ceremony served as a reminder of the critical need for organ donors, not just in Harrow, but across the UK, where the waiting list continues to grow. For more information on how to register as an organ donor, visit the NHS Organ Donor Register website.