Save9Lives receives official charity status

Organ donation campaign, Save9Lives, has been granted official charity status by the Charity Commission.

The campaign applied for charity status in May this year to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the campaign founder, Jim Lynskey’s passing.

Jim lived in Studley with mum Collette, brother Joe and twin sister Grace. He was living with a Left Ventricle Assisted Device (LVAD) and waiting for a heart transplant when he founded Save9Lives in 2015. His goal was to increase the awareness and discussion around organ donation so that others in his position could have a second chance at life.

Jim’s goal was to transform the Save9Lives campaign into an official registered charity, but sadly passed away before his vision could come into fruition.

Since his passing in May 2019, Jim’s Save9Lives campaign has been headed up by his twin sister Grace Lynskey, mum Collette Lynskey and family friend Lauren Knowles, all of whom are now the charity’s registered Trustees.

Grace said: “Becoming an official registered charity is a huge achievement for us, it’s a milestone which Jim ultimately wanted the campaign to get to, so we are thrilled to have achieved that for him. It will mean we have so much more opportunity now to establish more impactful partnerships and continue to get the message out there to talk about organ donation.”

Joe said: “As a family we’re all feeling so proud at this brilliant news for the campaign that Jim worked so hard to grow. One of his dreams was to see Save9Lives become an official charity, so to achieve this just before what wouldn’t been his 25th birthday makes this particularly special and emotional – his smile would’ve been so big. We now want to build a charity that offers something unique in spreading a message of hope and support around organ donation in schools and workplaces. Our goal for when life returns to some normality is to make Jim’s next dream come true – to see The Save9Lives Stage at a music festival.”

Collette said: “This milestone comes almost as a birthday present for Jim – which is on the 21 October - and I didn’t know what it would mean to me until the news made tears trickle down my face. I do offer school workshops and, although COVID-19 has made this difficult, they will return! For now, I’m targeting all the families who have been brave enough to donate during their darkest hour and sending a beautiful Save9Lives rose as a memory and thank you for their heroic and brave decision.”

To commemorate the one-year anniversary of Jim’s passing, Save9Lives launched an official rose as a tribute for all those who have been affected by organ donation.

The Save9Lives rose is available to order online from World of Roses for £14.99 for a potted rose, and £19.99 for potted and gift wrapped. The rose will arrive in bud and can be planted outside and watered regularly to maintain long-term.