WE’VE all heard of the selfie and the no makeup selfie – but there’s a new craze set to hit this Hallowe’en.
The ‘skulfie’ is beginning to take social media by storm, with people being urged to transform their faces into colourful skulls in a bid to save countless lives by raising awareness and vital cash for organ donation.
And one Hampshire mum, whose own life hangs in the balance as she waits for a new heart, is doing all she can to ensure the Day of the Living campaign is a huge success.
Taking inspiration from the Mexican Day of the Dead festival, the Live Life Give Life charity has launched this new campaign to remember those who have donated and celebrate those who are alive thanks to organ donors.
As an ambassador for the charity, Carla Gair, from Totton, has organised her own skulfie event, which is set to see 40 youngsters have their faces transformed, ready for a special performance to raise vital cash for the cause.
The 38-year-old mum-of-two has been waiting for a new heart for the last 12 months, having suffered a sudden heart attack seven years ago.
Fortunately, the attack happened when she was in a night club where there were three highly-trained staff able to give her CPR which saved her life.
Diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, Carla was fitted with an internal defibrillator to keep her heart pumping, but over the years her heart has continued to weaken, leaving her in desperate need of a new one.
So far, despite four calls to say a potential match had been found, each has resulted in a false alarm and she is still waiting for the perfect donor.
Carla said: “It was a massive shock when I was diagnosed with heart failure and it took almost a year for me to come to terms with it, because before the attack I was a young and healthy mum-of-two.
“It can be hard and there are times when you think about it and it is upsetting, especially as I am a single mum, but we just make the most of every day.
“I feel that anybody would take an organ if they or their loved one needed it. So I believe that if you are happy to take one, you should be happy to give one.
“Just 30 per cent of people are on the register. We need much more awareness and dispel the myths that surround organ donation.
“Donation’s the most amazing gift anyone could give.”
So to mark the Day of the Living on Saturday, the E-Minor Pop Academy, a choir that her 13-year-old daughter Mai-chi sings with, will have their faces painted with help from Karen Peake, of Peakabeau Pampering.
Once transformed, they will perform a special song at River Studios, which will be uploaded online in the hope of raising awareness and money for the charity, as well as each child uploading their own #skulfie to encourage more people to take part and donate.
Carla added: “We are celebrating the lives saved by organ donation and thanking all those who have made that possible.
“We have made it fun because some people may think organ donation is morbid, but while there is always a tragedy somewhere, something so positive comes out of it.”
• To donate text SKUL14 £3 to 70070. To join the organ donation register text SAVE to 62323.
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