Artist who had transplant designs donor cards

Sheffield artist Pete McKee has designed five new organ donor cards to encourage more people to sign up to the national register.

McKee underwent a life-saving liver transplant in 2017 after discovering he had a hereditary condition affecting his lungs and liver.

The limited edition run of cards are being handed out for free at a launch at his Leah's Yard studio in the city.

The designs have been commissioned for the British Transplant Games, but McKee hopes to also produce illustrations for more general donor cards in future.

McKee received his new liver from donor Mark Piotr and will compete in golf at the Games.

His cards feature emblems of Sheffield, including a steelworker pouring molten metal into a heart-shaped cask.

The launch event takes place at the McKee Gallery between 16:30-17:30 BST today.

The cards will also be available at British Transplant Games venues around Sheffield in August.

Mahmud Nawaz, director at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and ambassador for the British Transplant Games, said the cards would encourage people to sign the register and have a conversation with loved ones about organ donation.

His wife died of a sudden severe brain haemorrhage aged just 32.

Nawaz said: "I lost my wife in 2004 and she went on to become an organ donor and saved four lives, including a little boy who wouldn't have made it to two without the smaller part of her liver.

"That all came about because we'd had the conversation about organ donation in advance, so I knew she wanted to be a donor.

"And that came about because she carried a donor card in her purse. So we had that conversation as a result of the card."

Nawaz said he was "prepared" to face the question from medics when she died because he knew in advance that his wife wanted to donate her organs.

"That prepared me at the worst possible time when you lose someone in quite a sudden and traumatic way, to be able to say yes, because that's what she wanted," he said.

"As a result of that, those four people got that gift of life as well."

Nawaz said there was a major shortage of donors from Asian and ethnic minority communities.

"Sheffield is quite a diverse city, 25% of the city is from an ethnic minority community.

"Sadly, if you're from one of those communities, then you're twice as likely to need a transplant and half as likely to say yes to deceased organ donation as well. So there's a real need to get the conversation going.

"I think having these cards circulating will be a great conversation starter, get those conversations going, a great legacy from the games as well."

The NHS Blood and Transplant Service said it was "delighted" that 2026's British Transplant Games organ donor cards would feature Pete McKee's artwork.

"As a transplant recipient and Transplant Games participant himself, Pete's art brings to life the conversations about organ donation and its lifesaving impact on others," it said.

"This is more important than ever as the UK transplant waiting list has reached record levels, with over 8,300 people still waiting for a lifesaving transplant."

Donor families give out the medals at the Transplant Games and McKee said he is in regular contact with the Piotr family.

He has chosen to play golf in the Games because his donor loved the sport.

The NHS said people who want to be an organ donor and save lives after their death should confirm their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Nawaz added "the most important thing" was to let your loved ones know so they are prepared if asked the question.

He said people could donate nine "solid" organs: heart, liver (in two parts), two lungs, pancreas, small bowel and two kidneys - as well as tissue which can "dramatically improve" the lives of up to 50 people.

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