Donations
so far: £ 

About The Event

Whose idea is it?

Emma	Emily	Oli

Laughter for Life! is the idea and work of three friends - Emma Harris (32), Emily Thackray (22) and Oli Lewington (24). The trio suffer from Cystic Fibrosis (CF) – the UK’s most common, life-threatening genetic disease and causes progressive lung damage and failure. With an average life expectancy of just 31 years, the only hope for a CF sufferer at the end stages of the disease is a double lung transplant.

Between them the trio have lost 17 young friends with CF who were waiting for double lung transplants but whose time ran out due to the chronic shortage of organ donors in the UK. With current rates of organ donation, 50% of those on the waiting list will die before a donor is found.

Emily and Oli were both placed on the lung transplant waiting list in 2004. Having seen so many friends die waiting, and now watching their own lives slipping away, the trio decided to take matters into their own hands and launched the Live Life Then Give Life campaign to raise awareness of the desperate need for more people to register as organ donors. The campaign has generated national media coverage and boosted UK Transplant register figures with their cheeky 'I'd Give You One' slogan (www.livelifethengivelife.co.uk).

Their sense of humour and determination to make a difference despite their own failing health has won them many admirers – including several in the world of showbiz and media. Thanks to Bill Bailey’s support, putting on a charity comedy night was an obvious challenge to tackle next! Emma says:

"We’re doing this in memory of the laughter we used to share with the many young friends we’ve lost - friends who would still be here today if they had received a transplant in time. If this show can save lives whilst making people laugh than we will have achieved what we set out to do."

Thankfully in January there was some good news for Emily, who after 22 months of waiting finally received her double lung transplant and is currently recovering in Harefield Hospital, Middlesex as Oli explains:

"Emily was desperately ill and very weak before she got her transplant. Now, thanks to the incredible generosity of her donor, she has a bright future ahead of her. It gives me hope that someone somewhere may also allow me this second chance at life before it’s too late."

Proceeds from the night will go will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust (Registered Charity No. 1079049) to be used to improve organ transplant services in the UK – proving that laughter really is the best medicine!

Over 8000 people in the UK need an organ transplant to save or radically improve their lives. However due to the chronic shortage of donors, 450 people die each year waiting. The ever-growing demand for transplants means that waiting lists are increasing each year. 

To register as an organ donor takes just 2 minutes. To sign up telephone 0845 60 60 400 or sign online at www.uktransplant.org.uk