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FLYING HIGH: Wendell K. Raphael (PIC CREDIT: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)

A TRINIDAD-born organ donor has told The Voice he took on a bear, a daffodil and a pink hippopotamus in a recent 100 metre race to raise awareness of the need for more people to donate blood and register as organ donors.

Wendell K. Raphael, who donated a kidney to a friend in 2007, said he was glad to don the Mr Incredible costume, with the added red cape and built in six-pack, to encourage more people to become superheroes –and donate to save lives.

“The ACLT is looking for heroes,” said Raphael, who was representing the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) to raise funds for the UK's first Olympic sport based charity Gold Challenge last week.

WILLING

He said: “People need to step up and help out. These are the type of heroes that the ACLT needs, people who are willing to give more than money and time.”

Wearing the ACLT logo, Raphael, an ACLT volunteer since 2009, beat his fellow mascots in the 100-metre race. He grinned proudly as he hoisted the official flag of his adopted Great Britain in celebration. “It was great,” he said.

The IT security consultant, from Bristol, also took to the air in the long jump competition during the Gold Challenge events at Crystal Palace in south London.

“That was my first try at something like that. I am not sure about the results. I saw briefly a picture with my cape in the air,” laughed Raphael, who has completed 10k races, half marathons and the London marathon to raise funds for the ACLT.

The 39-year-old also promoted the ACLT’s Super Donor Dan message, which refers to the upcoming Daniel De-Gale Super Donation Week, in memory of ACLT founders Beverley de Gale and Orin Lewis’ son. The annual donor drive will run from October 3 to October 8 across the UK.

Daniel’s battle with childhood leukaemia helped start the ACLT and Beverley and Orin’s help Daniel inspired more than 30,000 black and mixed race people to sign up to become blood and bone marrow donors.

While he overcame the childhood leukaemia, Daniel sadly died in October 2008 from an unrelated condition at only age 21.

Raphael said he plans to do more races and other activities under the Gold Challenge, under which he plans to raise funds for charity while completing 2012 kilometres by the start of the London Olympics next July.

For more information visit http://www.aclt.org/index.php/home/shownews/177 or
http://www.goldchallenge.org/aclt