Opt for Life: The patients and families who drove our campaign for transplant change

We knew that there was clear and compelling evidence that the public supported organ donation but at that time less than 40% of Scots were on the national register.

More than 700 people in Scotland were waiting for a transplant.

Tony Carlin, former editor, wanted to do something to help and Opt for Life was born.

Our aim was to persuade the Scottish Government to switch to an opt-out system of organ donation, where the default position would be that everyone is considered a donor but the right to say no is respected.

Dozens of other European countries had introduced a form of presumed consent and evidence showed those countries tended to have higher donation rates.

After 1706 days and almost 500 articles, a Holyrood petition, a public petition and a failed bill, the campaign has achieved its goal.

Mr Carlin said: “The idea for the campaign was sparked many years ago when I discovered my nephew only had one kidney.

“Also, I had a friend whose brother was in desperate need of a kidney.

“The Evening Times has always had a strong history of health campaigning.

“I was surprised there was so much opposition when we started the campaign.

“However, those who disagreed with us, always had the utmost respect. They were genuinely passionate about saving lives and working within the current system but were always willing to listen to what we said.

“I’m immensely proud of the Evening Times team and our readers.

“Without their support this life-changing legislation would never have happened.”

The charity, Kidney Research UK, were first to get on board with our campaign, giving us their full backing and helped us gather more than 20,000 petition sign ups.

Others then followed including the  British Heart Foundation,  Cystic Fibrosis Trust, the Kidney Federation and the British Medical Association, which has itself, led a long-campaign for an opt-out system.

A host of Scottish celebrities pledged their support including Lorraine Kelly, football pundit Alan Hansen and Mick Cooke of the Glasgow band Belle & Sebastian.

Our campaign quickly attracted the attention of politicians, with almost half signing a motion lodged by Humza Yousaf of the SNP.

The Evening Times submitted a petition to parliament calling for the change and we were asked to give evidence at the public petitions committee.

Our petition was praised by the committee and led to a full debate in parliament, when Glasgow Labour MSP Drew Smith declared he was to put forward a member’s bill calling for a change in the law on the back of our campaign.

This mantle was later taken up by former MSP Anne McTaggart who with the help of the British Heart Foundation shaped a bill which was modelled on the Welsh system.

Our campaign was to suffer a major blow when the bill was defeated by a slim majority. The SNP said there were technical issues and pledged to take forward its own legislation.

Crucial to our campaign, was hearing from the patients who were directly involved. Those who were waiting for transplants, those whose lives had been changed by a donor organ and the families of those who had died waiting.

We spoke to the family of Gail Fleming, who died at the age of 38 of liver failure leaving two children without a mother because a donor was not found in time.

Her sister Allys Trusdale said at the time: “I don’t think you appreciate it all unless you are in that situation. I think organ donation should be mandatory. It’s no good to someone lying in a coffin.”

When our campaign was launched six-year-old Kyle Aitken, was chosen to front it. The youngster was born with a rare kidney condition and was told he would need a transplant in the future.

Kyle is now 12, and is waiting to receive a kidney transplant from his mum Caryn, who is a nurse.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted, thrilled to bits and I’m so glad we could help with the campaign.

“I’ve kept every article that Kyle was in. It will be nice for him when he’s older.”