ANYONE on Facebook could tell you that there has been something special going on over the past week.
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Will Chapman, his family and friends are conducting a social media campaign to raise awareness about organ donation.
The A Gracious Gift campaign has seen hundreds of local Facebook users change their profile picture to one sharing the message ‘Register to Become an Organ Donor’.
Will, who is on the donor waiting list for a heart and lungs, is encouraging people to register to become an organ donor and help save lives.
“As you can see my immediate family has adjusted their profile pictures in the last week to a picture dedicated to improving advocacy for organ donation within Australia,” he explained on Facebook.
“For those who don't know my life, as of late, has been revolved around waiting for a heart and double lung transplant.
“I ask that all of my Facebook friends, despite if we are close or not, adjust your profile picture and cover photo for one week only.
“I then ask you send on a message to the entirety of your Facebook friends insisting they do the same.
“Please make the effort to do this.”
Will hopes that by sharing the A Gracious Gift page, people will take the time to register as an organ donor.
Along with the push through Facebook, Will has written and starred in a moving Youtube video to further the cause.
Made in collaboration with ShareLife and some influential Australians, the video features Will, his family and friends and tells his story.
“I ask that every single person share and encourage everyone you know to share the video,” Will said.
“A team from Wolfmoon visual media and several others have volunteered their time to get this across the line successfully, and with your help it is so possible to achieve amazing things.
“I look forward to seeing changed profile pictures in my feed, the video shared endlessly and most importantly, the organ donation rate increase, in turn having close friends of mine activated on transplantation lists.
“We can all make a huge difference.”
Supporting Will’s campaign is easy – all you need to do is go online, register to become an organ donor and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
You can share the video with them, found on Youtube by searching ‘A Gracious Gift’, you can share the Facebook site, under A Gracious Gift or you can follow Will on Twitter @AGraciousGift.
To register to become an organ donor, visit www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
You can find out more about what becoming an organ donor means at www.sharelife.org.au