Agencies lend weight to ex-staffer’s campaign for increased organ donation
Sister agencies McCann and UM have got behind a campaign for organ donation led by a former employee who is currently awaiting a life saving transplant.
Until becoming too ill to work, Chapman was an account executive at UM. He created a film encouraging organ donation earlier this year.
McCann has created a TVC, cut from the film and launched a website aimed to get people talking about the importance of organ donation.
The site, DontBuryMe, is provocatively titled to encourage people to consider how many organs are wasted by being buried each year, as a result of people failing to register for organ donation or to tell their next of kin of their wishes. UM is aiming to get a TV screening for the ad, and has submitted it to the networks as a Community Service Announcement and is encouraging media owners to donate their inventory.
I’ve worked with Will and may I just say he’s an absolutely ripping bloke. All the best for this mate!
Well done UM and McCanns. The site is great, having the functionality sign up and to share with family members right there and then is great. Now just need the media owners the run the hell out of the 30sec spot.
I’ve got my fingers crossed for you Will.
Spread the word!
I had the pleasure of meeting Will whilst he was at UM – great great guy. Good luck Will – fingers crossed, thinking of you!
Hi, I feel for you and your family and loves ones.
I will spread your words.I have faith and hope and confidence.
that together we can find a donors.
Opportunity is infinite and always present.
I pray and also have send out your message to the world for Miracles of donor’s to come to you.
Teresa Lipczyk S.A
The law of attraction will bring you your donors…
All my love = N x N = Success to you all.x
A massive thanks to 7, 9, 10, SBS and FOXTEL who today have all pledged their support and airtime to Will’s campaign.
As always UM’s thoughts are with Will and his family.
Great one Will – great initiative, and hats off to all involved at UM/McCann’s and Wolfmoon.
Best,
/y0z
Well done Will. I so admire that you have taken this situation and used it to benefit all of those unlucky enough to require organ donation. Well done also to UM, McCann and all of the media owners who have so generously donated their time to help spread Will’s message.
Mate (!) this great news, Keeping our fingers and toes crossed for you! Looking forward to seeing your campaign grow, and hopefully more Australian’s will support and ensure lives a changed for you and others in need.
I too have had the pleasure of working with Will and he is one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met…. Please spread the word and register to be an organ donor, it might just save this beautiful boy’s life.
Great job Will, you’re such an inspiration
Amazing effort!
Will, I’ve only just started at UM so I haven’t met you. But I think what you’re doing is amazing and I am passing the message on to everyone I know. I wish you nothing but luck and I hope for nothing less than your complete recovery.
On behalf of my family, my friends and everyone in a similar predicament, sincere thanks to UM, McCann Worldgroup and 7,9,10, SBS and Foxtel for bringing this campaign to life. Amazing generosity from amazing people. Best wishes, Will
Will, you are an inspiration to us all. Thank you to everyone who has shown or given support for this important cause and to this awesome young man.
Let’s keep making noise!
Such a brave dude. Such a as situation.
I just registered as an organ donor. Everyone should do the same.
Good luck.
Well done UM, McCanns and you media guys and girls.
A big massive thanks also goes to Seven Affiliates, WIN NBN, SCA & Ignite Media Brands who also today have all pledged their support and airtime to Will’s campaign.
All the best Will, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I hope Will gets the organs he needs, it is a wonderful gift that costs you nothing to give.
I think this campaign raises an interesting point. We know that removing as many ‘barriers to entry’ as we can will increase the likelihood of a product/service/cause being taken up.
The whole organ donation registration system should be turned upside down. It is Greece I believe (don’t quote me) who have an ‘opt out’ system instead, where you are automatically enrolled for donation at birth. There is a simple process to remove yourself from the donation roster if you so desire.
This strikes me as a much better system, as it doesn’t require additional effort on the part of the consumer (probably the wrong word in this context) to sign up.
I myself am an organ donor and I believe it is a very good cause. But I have to admit that had they not asked me when I got my car licence, I probably wouldn’t have thought of it. So lets stop asking. As long as the unenrollment process is simple enough so people won’t feel like the government is taking control of their organs, most of the population wouldn’t have a problem with it.
Our industry has to have enough leverage in the right places to help this happen, doesn’t it?
Anyway, best of luck Will.
Such amazing strength and maturity beyond your years Will. You are an inspiration to all people young and old. You have already changed the world!!
Congrats UM and McCann’s for pushing the word out even further. Amazing.
Good luck mate, wish you all the best. Know that your efforts are making a difference, I’ve signed up and will spread the word.
Good luck Will. Support you fully bud.
Nice work everyone. Also, thanks to Caitlin Harnett and the guys from Mushroom Music for donating the music for the ad.
Go Will.
An amazing initiative from an incredibly guy. Any additional support we can all give just by spreading the word to friends helps.
Thoughts are with you buddy, hope you’re staying strong.
Will is the most inspirational, amazing 20 y.o I know! Help us help him – become an organ donor it only takes a second & you’ll be saving lives!
Having also worked with Will, he is an amazing person and deserves so much more out of life. My thoughts are with you always Will – you’re doing such a great job spreading the word. And massive thank you to the networks that are donating airtime for support! Amazing effort all.
Completely agree with you Jake, the whole organ process in many countries is backwards.
Many European countries such as Austria, Belgium France, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Sweden are all opt out and they have a very small number of people who opt out. Compared to the UK/Australia for instance where you have to opt in, this single hurdle prevents 80% if not more of people from donating.
I don’t understand why other countries haven’t followed suit, after seeing something working so well in similar countries.
Surely it’s time to rethink our legislation on donation.
Our transplantation rates show we need national reform to be expedited, not pockets of improvement which has been occurring since 1989. It is imperative that the Organ and Tissue Authority’s leadership group take stock of poor performance to date and fulfill their obligation to those in need by ensuring real change occurs. As well as saving lives, there will be considerable savings for the health system. I get sick and tired of hearing that an opt-out system/registration will improve our transplantation rates. These things act as the biggest road block to improving our transplantation rates. As Alex has said, we need to replicate world’s best practice which at present is Spain. All of the leading countries do not have registration systems or opt-out alternates, they simply have suitable people who identify every potential donor and allow families in a time of grieving to make a comfortable, informed decision.
Will, keep up the fight. Our thoughts are always with you and your family. May your actions create change and you get the transplant you require so you can join us at this year’s UM Christmas Party.
Stay strong, you are an amazing individual.
So, the support from media land continues – a very special shout-out and thank goes to the following partners who are on-board with spreading this very special message : News Limited, Val Morgan, Executive Channel, Fairfax, Yahoo7, Mediai, The Media Federation of Australia, ARN, DMG and Southern Cross Australia Radio.
We thank you unconditionally for your support.