Sharing stories of lived experience.
About the Choir
The Black Living Donor Choir was formed in 2022 by Dela Idowu the founder of Gift of Living Donation (GOLD) as a creative platform to raise awareness of living donation in the Black community.
The power of music will allow us to reach a wide and diverse population with our message.
We want Black patients to live their best lives now through living donation and avoid needing dialysis.
As a choir we are a visible representation that Black people do donate!
We’re on a mission
We’re on a mission to encourage the Black community to talk about living donation as it is life-changing for Black people living with kidney failure.
We hope our personal stories of living donation will inspire others to donate.
We took a risk and had an operation we didn’t need. We are wives, sisters, daughters, mothers, husbands, fathers, friends and brothers. We’re proud to be Black living donors!
What drives our passion?
People from the Black community are five times more likely to develop kidney failure and wait longer for a kidney transplant than other communities, we want to use our voices to change this and see more Black kidney patients have a living donor transplant.
The GOLD Black Living Donor Choir is made up of ordinary Black men and women who made the decision to improve the quality of life for loved ones, friends and even strangers by donating one of our kidneys.
We’re proud to be sponsored by the UK’s leading kidney patient support charity, Kidney Care UK. It provides practical, financial and emotional support for kidney patients and their families and campaigns to improve care services across the UK.
Kidney Care UK supports over 100 patients every week and invests more than £3m each year in patient grants.Â
Meet some of our choir members
Phillip’s Story
In 1993 my wife Denise was diagnosed with lupus after giving birth to our son and soon developed kidney failure and spent years on dialysis. Denise had a deceased donor transplant and during that period, I proposed to her on her 40th birthday.
Unfortunately, our happiness was short lived when a virus attacked Denise’s donated kidney, sadly she was back on dialysis. Denise and I had discussed living donation, I donated one of my kidneys through the three-way kidney swap scheme.
We were the first to take part in this pioneering operation in the UK on July 25th, 2018, and it was a success. Knowing my wife has a better quality of life brings me, our son, family, and friends so much joy and happiness.
Suzanne’s Story
When I was told my daughter had kidney failure and would need dialysis, I was absolutely heartbroken, she had been through so much and this was the last straw.
My daughter initially had dialysis at New Cross dialysis unit, but in order to look after her children she changed to home dialysis. Whilst back on dialysis after having a failed deceased kidney transplant she was advised to think about living donation, when she told me I immediately put myself forward.
After numerous tests I was found to be a perfect match. There were a few last minute cancellations but the transplant finally went ahead. It was a successful transplant, my daughter was absolutely glowing when I met her the next day, and she looked as if she had been for a spa treatment. Living donation transformed my daughter’s life!
Bertram’s Story
I embarked on a journey that for many people from the black community would be unthinkable.
In 2017 at St Georges Hospital, I donated a kidney to Hayley my wife through the kidney sharing scheme. I was not a match for Hayley but when I found out about the kidney sharing scheme (KSS) I put myself forward. It was the best decision I have ever made. Seeing my wife enjoy life again is fantastic. No more dialysis! We can travel and now do all the normal things married couples do.
Spreading Hope & Harmony
The Black Living Donor Choir perform at many different types of occasions, from local community events to large performances. We are based in London but will travel nationally.
By engaging the Black Living Donor Choir to perform, you are not only experiencing a journey of hope but also supporting the powerful message of transforming lives through organ donation.
Soulful performances nationwide
Performance bookings
For all bookings please contact: Polly Todd, Artistic Planning & Engagement Manager: info@blacklivingdonorchoir.org.uk or use the contact form below.