How a Champion Can Help You Find a Living Kidney Donor
If you need a kidney transplant and are seeking a living donor, having a “champion” to help you in your search can make all the difference.
A 2020 study at Johns Hopkins found that participants with a champion were five to six times more likely to find a potential living donor than those without a champion. A small 2012 study on living donor champions found that patients with champions received 25 donor inquiries, while those without received none.
But what exactly is a champion, and how can they help?
What’s a “Champion”?
A champion is someone who helps you spread the word about your need for a kidney donor. They may be a close friend, family member, coworker, or someone from your church or community.
A champion doesn’t need to have a medical background or any special expertise. They just need to be willing to speak on your behalf, share your story, and help connect you with potential living donors.
Why Champions Matter
When you’re facing kidney failure or preparing for a transplant, you already have enough on your plate, like fatigue, doctor visits, medications, and emotional ups and downs. On top of all that, asking people to consider donating a kidney can feel overwhelming.
That’s where a champion comes in. A champion can:
- Start conversations you might find difficult or uncomfortable
- Raise awareness about your situation beyond your immediate circle
- Answer common questions from potential donors
- Organize events to raise awareness about your need for a living kidney donor
- Spread the word via social media, email, posters, bumper stickers, etc.
Once you’ve decided to look for a living kidney donor, consider asking a few trusted people to take on the champion role. Talk to them about what’s involved and encourage them to be honest about their willingness and ability to fill the role.
What Makes a Good Champion?
A good champion is someone who:
- Believes in you and your story
- Communicates clearly and compassionately
- Isn’t afraid to ask others for help
- Is organized and committed
- Is willing to be open about their own reason for not donating
That last point might surprise you. But when a champion approaches someone and asks them to consider donation, the first thing many people think is: “Why aren’t you donating yourself?”
That’s why it’s helpful for champions to be upfront about their own reasons—they might have a medical condition, a personal responsibility, or another reason that makes them ineligible. By addressing that head-on, champions can remove a mental roadblock and keep the focus on your need and your story.
You Can Have More Than One Champion
You don’t need to limit yourself to one champion. In fact, the more people you have in your corner, the better the chances one of them will reach the person who will become your donor.
If you have more than one champion, consider assigning each person a role that matches their strengths or interests. Some champions are great at one-on-one conversations. Others excel at creating engaging posts on social media. Some might help you design and print T-shirts, bumper stickers, or posters, while others can organize awareness events or reach out to local and national media.
With the right champion (or champions) in your corner, you won’t just be raising awareness—you’ll be improving your chances of finding the living donor who could change your life.