#iwill Live Loudly Donate Proudly
1047. Lucia Mee
Lucia Mee, aged 18, from County Antrim, is the founder of ‘Live Loudly Donate Proudly’, a campaign that raises awareness about organ donation, mental health and encourages other young people to use their voice to create social change.
Lucia received three life-saving liver transplants before the age of 17 and was just eight years old when she had her first transplant. In 2015 she teamed up with ‘Fixers’, a charity that gives young people the chance to create a media campaign, to share the story of her organ transplant and inspire others to donate. Her aim is to create spaces where people feel comfortable having difficult conversations about death, dying and illness, so that they know the wishes of their loved ones. She has also competed in the ‘British and World Transplant Games’, a charity bringing together patients and transplant recipients to take part in sporting events.
Lucia has recently been selected as an #iwill Ambassador by the #iwill campaign, which seeks to make social action a part of life for all young people by 2020. The campaign’s annual #iwillWeek, this year 12-16th November, is an opportunity for the 900 cross-sector partners of the #iwill campaign to join together to celebrate the impact young people are having on communities across the UK, and to champion the voices of young people making a difference. Lucia was presented with her award at the #iwillWeek event held at Kew Gardens by Lord Gardiner.
In a personal letter to Lucia, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“By bravely sharing the story of your three liver transplants, you are encouraging others to talk openly about organ donation. You should feel very proud of how your ‘Live Loudly Donate Proudly’ campaign is helping young people to feel comfortable discussing this important issue with family and friends.”
Charlotte Hill, CEO of ‘Step Up To Serve’, which coordinates the #iwill campaign, said:
“At the #iwill campaign we know that young people have the energy, ideas and drive to address issues in their community and to tackle many of society’s tougher challenges. We are so pleased to see the Prime Minister recognising the astounding achievements that Lucia has made through her volunteering, fundraising and campaigning, and hope this inspires Lucia and other young people to continue their fantastic work.”
Lucia said:
“There are so many incredible young people who are doing amazing work and to have been recognised amongst them is very special. Hopefully this coverage will do even more good and will not only raise awareness of Organ Donation, mental health and our campaigning – but it will also encourage more young people to get involved in volunteering and creating social change.”
Pictured below: Lucia (third from right) with Lord Gardiner (centre) at the #iwillWeek 2018 event held at Kew Gardens, alongside fellow Points of Light winning #iwill ambassadors Amy Meek, Ella Meek, Mhairi McCann, Anna McGovern and Dara McAnulty (credit: Barima Owusu Nyantekyi)
