Kaylee Davidson-Olley, who became the first baby in the UK to receive a successful heart transplant at the Freeman Hospital in 1987, has launched a year-long fundraising campaign to mark the 40th anniversary of her surgery. The campaign aims to raise £40,000 for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (Chuf) and raise awareness of the life-changing impact of organ donation.
Kaylee, from Houghton-le-Spring, was just five months old when she underwent the transplant after being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. Now 39, she will be joined by family, friends, supporters and medical professionals over the next 365 days as she takes on a series of challenges, including a zip-wire challenge, a 40-mile walk and a 70-foot abseil.
Campaign launch and challenges
The campaign launched on Thursday with a short video celebrating moments from Kaylee's life. Kaylee said: "My heart transplant is something I never take for granted. I want to use this milestone to give something back. I hope people will join me on this journey, take part in the challenges and help us make a real difference."
The 40th anniversary of Kaylee's transplant will be on October 14, 2027. Supporters are encouraged to get involved by taking on a personal challenge, organising a fundraiser, donating or sharing the campaign on social media.
Organ donation statistics
The campaign comes as thousands of people across the UK wait for a life-saving transplant. NHS Blood and Transplant figures show that 8,757 people were on the UK transplant waiting list as of October 2026, and 434 patients died waiting for a transplant between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.
NHS figures also highlight the importance of making organ donation wishes clear. In the latest reported annual figures, 167 families overruled a relative's registered or expressed decision to donate. In a further 602 cases, families did not support donation where consent was presumed under the deemed consent system because their loved one had not recorded a decision. NHS Blood and Transplant estimated that these situations represented more than 2,000 lost opportunities for transplantation.
Support from NHS and Chuf
Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "I'd like to congratulate Kaylee and wish her every success with her fundraising efforts. Kaylee's story is a powerful testament to the life-changing gift of organ donation, the generosity of donors and their families, and the incredible advances in transplantation that have helped thousands of people live longer, healthier lives."
He added: "I would encourage everyone to have the conversation with their loved ones and register their organ donation decision. NHS Blood and Transplant has set an ambitious goal of reaching one million new registered donation decisions by 2027, and every registration has the potential to help save and transform lives."
Charlotte Campbell, Charity Director at Chuf, said: "We’re honoured to be part of this campaign, helping to raise awareness of organ donation and the difference it can make. We hope her story inspires more people to have conversations with their families about organ donation and consider the incredible gift of life."
The campaign will run until 15 October 2027, when Kaylee, her supporters and the medical and transplant communities will come together for a final fundraiser at the Radisson Blu hotel in Durham, to mark an incredible 40 years since her transplant.
