The Irish Donor Network is a group of individuals and patient associations directly concerned with organ transplantation, donor families and medical co-ordinators involved in organ and tissue transplantation. The Irish Donor Network promotes, prints and distributes the Gift of Life Donor Card. By carrying the card and informing your family, you indicate your intention of donating organs and tissue for the purpose of transplantation in the event of your death.  The Alpha One Foundation is proud to be a member of the Irish Donor Network along with:

• Donor families
• The Irish Kidney Association
• The Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association
• The Cystic Fibrosis Association
• The Irish Lung Fibrosis Association  
• Liver Transplant Coordinators in St.Vincent's Hospital.

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency can affect the lungs and liver. Alpha-1 patients who develop severe lung or liver disease may require lung or liver transplants, in fact half of the first group of Irish lung transplant recipients were Alpha-1 Patients. Organ Donation is therefore very close to the heart of many Alpha-1 patients and the Alpha One Foundation. We strongly encourage people to get and carry the organ donor card. To apply for an organ donor card simply text the word DONOR to 50050 or complete the form on the Irish Kidney Association website.

Organ Donation Awareness Week 2-9th of April 2011

Our CEO Kitty O'Connor attended the launch of Organ Donation Awareness Week in the Mansion House this week. This event was attended by Minister for Health James Reilly, patients and members of the Irish Donor Networks. RTÉ News attended the event and reported on the decline in organ donations over the last year.  An Organ Donation Ecard app was launched which enables people to indicate their wish to become organ donors through their smart phone. This app will send a SMS message to the persons next of kin to start the difficult conversation about organ donation. Please click here to download the app.