THE BLACK Living Donor Choir will be singing at the top of their soulful voices this month at the Harmony for Hope Concert World Kidney Day Concert.

The choir will be using the power of music and their donor stories to entertain and encourage conversations about Living Kidney Donation in the Black Community.

Created in 2022 by Dela Idowu, The Black Living Donor Choir is made up of twelve people who have donated a kidney to save a life and are passionate about transforming the lives of Black kidney patients through kidney donation.

A recent report published by NHS Blood and Transplant showed that there is a significant need for more organ donors of Black heritage in order to help the growing number of Black patients waiting for life-saving transplants. 

Often the best match for a transplant comes from people of the same ethnic background so it’s vital the Black community hear positive stories and celebrate people from their community who have lived experience of living  kidney donation  

Over the last five years there has been a 22 per cent increase in Black patients waiting on the list for a kidney transplant, however the number of Black Living Donors fell sharply to 62 (61 per cent) in 2020/21 due to events such as COVID-19, leaving a number of patients waiting on the donation waiting list.

Idowu said: “I wanted the Black community to be informed about living kidney donation but at the same time be entertained in a language that connects people together.” 

Recording artist, Samantha Antoinette who has supported artists including Lionel Ritchie, Paul McCartney and Tina Turner will be performing at the Harmony for Hope World Kidney Day Concert which takes place on March 17. 

Polly Todd, 65, a living Kidney donor and choir member said: “What inspired me to donate a kidney to my brother was the simple fact that I didn’t want to see my brother go through a lifetime of dialysis, and I wanted him to be able to have a full life with his young children. We’re both doing well, it was life changing for both of us.” 

Richard Todd, 63, who received his sister’s donated kidney said: “The donation has given me more energy and complete freedom from dialysis, it’s a gift my sister has given me that has been life changing for me and my family.” 

Karen Sanderson, Senior Fundraiser at Kidney Care UK, Britain’s leading kidney patient support charity, said: “We’re delighted to support the Black Living Donor Choir. 

“Their inspirational message of hope and demonstration of the transformational power of organ donation is so powerful. With a shortage of organ donors of Black heritage, and people from this community waiting longer for a transplant, it is vital that we raise awareness that it is possible to donate a kidney to a loved one, friend, family member or stranger.”

Frank Dor, Head of Transplantation, Consultant Transplant and General Surgeon at Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and Ambassador for the Black Living Donor Choir said: “It is a huge honour to be an ambassador of the Black Living Donor Choir. 

“They are a fantastic group of people who do so much work to raise awareness of kidney donation in their community but also proud as they gave the gift of life and inspire others to talk about this too and follow their example to help a loved one or someone they don’t even know.”  
Tickets for the concert at available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/harmony-for-hope-world-kidney-day-concert-by-the-black-living-donor-choir-tickets-800319837177

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