Carrick woman to pick up award honouring dad’s organ donation

Gemma Colvin was invited by international humanitarian charity, the Order of St John, to receive the accolade in memory of her dad David Colvin.

Launched in 2013, the award is offered by invitation to all families whose loved one donates in the UK.

It is given posthumously to the donor, accepted on their behalf by a relative at a regional ceremony.

Originally from the Shankill area of Belfast, Mr Colvin lived for a time in Greenisland.

He was well-known in the Shankill community for his work with ex-prisoners.

“My dad worked with EPIC (Ex Prisoners’ Interpretive Centre) for years and was an ex-prisoner himself,” said Gemma, from the Sunnylands area of the town.

Sadly, Mr Colvin passed away in May last year at the age of 53 after suffering a stroke.

“My dad wasn’t on the organ donation register, so the nurses [at the Royal Victoria Hospital] approached me and asked if I would give my consent for his organs to be donated,” Gemma added. “I didn’t hesitate as he was a giver in life and I knew that’s what he would have wanted in death.

“I’ve got letters from the NHS Organ Donation Service to say that his organs have gone on to help four different people. There was one woman who had been on dialysis for seven years before she got one of my dad’s kidneys.

“It’s strange but it is a wee bit of a comfort to know that’s he’s helped people.”

The regional Order of St John awards will be presented by Dame Mary Peters at Belfast Castle on October 12.