Lung Transplant Patient Hélène Campbell Uses Crowdfunding To Help Other Transplant Patients

OTTAWA, April 22, 2013 /CNW/ - Today in Ottawa, Hélène Campbell announced the Give2Live Campaign, a social media effort that uses crowdfunding to support the needs of those waiting for transplants throughout Canada.

"Many patients waiting for an organ transplant at Toronto General Hospital and other transplant centres are required to live within two hours of the hospital," said Ms. Campbell.  "More often than not, this means uprooting from their home and finding new housing along with paying for medical equipment, food and transportation while they wait for a transplant.

As you can imagine the cost to do all this can be overwhelming, at a time when their health is not the best and they are not working.  Usually, this means that a friend or family member must also stop working and wait for the call"

In launching the campaign, Ms. Campbell's goal is to help 30 patients and their families who are on the organ transplant waiting list right now and are living within the two-hour zone of Toronto General Hospital where Ms. Campbell had her lung transplant.  She has partnered with the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation to create the Give2Live Campaign in support of transplant patients and their families.

Ms. Campbell received her lung transplant at Toronto General Hospital in April 2012. She developed a significant public following through her personal blog and by engaging celebrities such as Justin Bieber and Ellen DeGeneres through social media. In February 2013, she appeared in person on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Funds raised through the Campaign will help cover the cost of food, pay for accommodations and transportation, and buy medical supplies - things that may not be fully covered by our healthcare system. The average out-of-pocket cost for a patient on the transplant waiting list is $10,000.

"The goal is to raise $300,000 and help 30 patients and their families live while they wait for a life-saving organ transplant," said Ms. Campbell.  "I also recognize that transplants take place at other centres so we are working with centres across the country so that we can help as many people as possible," continued Ms. Campbell.

Give2Live launches today at www.give2live.ca to coincide with National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week.  The website contains all details of the Give2Live Campaign which supports those awaiting transplant and reinforces Ms. Campbell's desire to have as many Canadians as possible register to be organ donors.

About Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation
Established in 1986, Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation is dedicated to supporting excellence in health care by raising funds for research, medical education, and the improvement of patient care at Toronto General Hospital (TGH) and Toronto Western Hospital (TWH), which, along with Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Toronto Rehab, comprise University Health Network (UHN).

SOURCE: Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation

Nadine Hubert
Director of Communications
Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation
University Health Network
Tel.  [phone]