THE parents of Adam Rogers are calling on people to join the Organ Donor Register because it gives people ‘the chance of a new life’.

Part of the Consequences campaign, run jointly by the Lancashire Telegraph and Dave and Pat Rogers, is to highlight the need for willing donors. Their 24-year-old son had expressed his wish to be a donor by ticking the box on his driving licence application at just 18 years old.

At the time, he told his dad he would want to ‘be of help to somebody else’. And Adam’s heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas helped five other people – all male aged six to 63.

Pat, of Blackburn, said it was the Padiham Ladies’ Football Club coach’s ‘definite’ resolve which made their decision easier, despite having to make it with their son having just been pronounced dead at Royal Blackburn Hospital on July 5.

She said: “It was a really good decision, made so much easier because Adam had made his wishes known. It was such a difficult time to make the decision.

“He was pronounced dead at 2.30pm, but we actually stayed with him until 10.30pm. He was still breathing with the help of machines until they took him to theatre to remove the organs.

“It gave us a few extra hours to sit with him.

“You’ve got to think about the positive impact it has for someone else.

“With young people, it can be an accident and they will be fit and healthy with organs in good shape.

“If a transplant could have made a difference to Adam at that time, we would have desperately wanted it. You’ve got to put yourself in the other family’s situation.”

The Consequences campaign was launched to highlight the devastating effects of spontaeneous violence.

Adam died after being struck by a single punch in Blackburn town centre.

The campaign is also promoting that one of the ‘consequences’ of such incidents is the chance to save lives through the donation of organs.

To register visit www. organdonation.nhs.uk or ring the NHS Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or text SAVE to 84118.