The Charity was set up as a support organisation in 1986 to fund the first transplants in the North West to assist in funding the development of a transplant centre for heart and lung transplantation. In 1995, it was formally recognised as a charity with The Charity Commissioners and a private company limited by guarantee not having a share capital was formed. There are 10 trustees from various backgrounds - medical staff, patients and business supporters.

Support Groups in Horwich, North Wales and Liverpool have been formed to feed donations to the main charity.

The main objectives of the charity are "...the relief of sickness and the preservation and protection of good health by the provision of financial assistance to the programme of heart and lung transplantation and future clinical developments in heart and lung surgery at Wythenshawe Hospital..."

Over the years the charity has raised funds in the order of £5.5 million to provide the following at Wythenshawe Hospital:

• Funding the first 50 transplants
• Providing one third of the cost of building the transplant centre
• Building four bungalows for accommodation of transplant patients prior to returning home
• Building and equipping the Transplant Laboratory
• Funding the Laboratory for three years
• Funding a range of reseach projects
• Funding the salaries of three clinicians for three years
• Financing the building of £1.9 million Jim Quick Transplant Ward and six bedsits
• Financing an ICU bed for one year

The Charity will continue to carry out its objectives while there is a need and is currently preparing a plan to see what support can and should be given to the hospital over the next few years.

If you would like more information on the Charity, would like to make a donation or can offer support please call the Charity Office on 0161 945 2166 or e-mail charity@transplant-online.co.uk Also read the Gift Aid page for information on how to increase the value of your donation through tax recovery.