The Wigan Warriors Wheelchair Rugby League teams dedicated their first home games of the season at Robin Park Leisure Centre to raising awareness about organ donation in memory of Alex Newlove, who passed away in Manchester in January 2020. At 27 years old, Alex was a devoted Wigan Warriors fan who saved or transformed the lives of six people by donating his heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. His close friends, Tom Welch and Danny Dutson, who now play for the Warriors Wheelchair team, organized the event and invited Alex’s mother Judy, her partner Gary, and his brother Oliver to honor Alex’s memory. The 1st and Reserve teams warmed up in pink NHSBT Organ Donation T-shirts before their games against the Leeds Rhinos, both of which were thrilling to watch. Volunteers from the Donor Family Network and NHSBT Organ Donation ambassadors supported the event with an exhibition stand, engaging with the public to discuss organ donation and encourage registration. Despite the new Opt-Out system, which assumes all adults in England agree to organ donation unless they opt out or belong to excluded groups, it’s still crucial to share one’s wishes with family, as next of kin will be consulted. Alex’s mother, Judy, hadn’t discussed organ donation with Alex before his sudden death from a brain hemorrhage, but she instinctively knew his wishes, later confirmed by his registration. The Wigan Warriors and the Rugby League community are making significant efforts to promote inclusivity and raise awareness for this life-saving cause.
