Dab-handed students from a school in Willesden were joined by well-known faces at an awards ceremony honouring the winners of a poster competition to raise awareness of live organ donation in Brent.
More than 60 artistic students from Capital City Academy in Doyle Gardens, met the Cllr Lesley Jones, Mayor of Brent, and other special guests including a transplant surgeon, as trophies were awarded for thought-provoking posters encouraging people to consider the life-changing gift of organ donation.
The posters were especially targeted at those in the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community as there is a shortage of donors.
Neasden resident Dela Idowu, who launched the Teens for Donor Awareness poster campaign for her Gift of Living Donation (GOLD) charity, said: “It was great to see young people translating the gift of organ donation into art and thinking about what it means to those whose lives are changed.”
Students had the chance to quiz Ms Idowu, 55, about the experience of donating a kidney after her brother, Tayo, 57, who suffered from kidney failure, received a new lease on life following a kidney transplant from a suitable donor match.
The trophy for the winning poster design, which is set to appear in public spaces around Brent, was presented to Falhat Hussein by Cllr Jones.
She said: “As a former art teacher I am impressed by how students at Capital City Academy used their creativity through art to raise awareness of such an important issue.”
Miss Hussein’s colourful design was chosen from among 60 entries including finalists Owen-Davidson, Kowsar Al-Husaini, Chris John Sumabat, Faith Jean-Marie and Karima Smith, who collected trophies on stage alongside former DJ and community activist Daddy Ernie, who hosted the event.
The Brent People’s Choice Award went to Faith Jean-Marie and was presented by Brent schools football coach Keith ‘Gussy’ Young.
There are currently more than 100 people on the waiting list for an organ transplant in Brent.
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