“Breath Unlmited- Be a Life Donor” Campaign
Breath Unlmited- Be a Life Donor” Campaign We support lung transplants with actions!
In 2020, as part of the multi-level “Unlimited Breath,” the Association created the “Breath Unlimited – Be a Life Donor” Campaign to promote transplant and organ donation.The only survival solution for patients with end-stage respiratory failure is lung transplantation. Lung transplantation is also a survival solution for patients with other respiratory diseases, such as chronic respiratory failure (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension. In Greece, organ donation rates are low, and a more significant effort is required concerning the lungs, which are considered fragile and sensitive transplants.
Onassis Foundation and the National Transplantation Organization have made efforts to increase the number of organ donors in Greece. The Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association contributes to these efforts and raises public awareness by launching the “Breath Unlimited – Be a Life Donor” campaign under the auspices of the National Transplantation Organization (EOM).
The campaign started with a mural at the General Hospital of “Agios Panteleimon” in Athens, thanks to the immediate response of Anastasios Mytoglou, Director of the Hospital. The mural depicts an actual Cystic Fibrosis patient who had a lung transplant in 2016 in Austria at 18. She wears an oxygen supply mask fighting daily with what she lacks, her breath. Finally, she offers the tip of the tube to each of us to give her unlimited breath with a lung transplant.
The chain of organ donation begins in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) with the identification of potential donors. The Nice hospital is one of the largest hospitals in our country, which can contribute to the overall effort as the Intensive Care Units are the valuable pool of potential donors.
The mural was realized by “Humane,” “Urban act,” and the artist same84 with the kind support of the Urban non-profit Cultural and Public Beneficial Company Project “Aegea,” Vertex Pharmaceuticals, flame, and drone photography.
You can watch the video of the Campaign here.
Message of the President of the Hellenic Republic
"I want to express my undivided support to your 'Breath Unlimited' campaign to raise public awareness about organ donation and lung transplantation. I know how dangerous the disease is, how complicated the daily life of the sufferers is, and how likely they are to die from respiratory failure. I am also aware of the struggle waged by the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association so that those suffering from the disease in our country have free early access to the revolutionary treatment that can stop the symptoms of the disease, preventing the destruction of the body's organs and especially the lungs. The happy ending of this struggle fills us with hope. However, the possibility of transplantation fills us with greater hope, given the availability of potential donors. Organ donation is an act of love and social solidarity that multiplies life. And I assure you that you will find me helpful in informing and raising awareness of our fellow citizens in all steps of your difficult struggle." The Campaign is also supported by 77 leading executives from the Healthcare sector. The campaign received the Silver Healthcare Award 2021. In addition, the campaign tripled organ donor registrations, with 631 new registrations on the National Transplant Organ Organ Donor Registry between December 2020 and January 2021.
We support lung transplants with actions
Each of us can reverse our country’s negative lead in organ donation.
We encourage you to visit the National Transplantation Organization and register as an organ donor.
Let’s all give breath unlimited with one click
