Life after Drew campaign draws to a close on today’s Father’s Day

Dayna Clarke speaks to KENNETH ABELA, father of Drew Abela who, along with his family, set up the ‘Life after Drew’ organ donation campaign following Drew’s death Why was the Life after Drew campaign set up? Three years ago, nearly to the day, my wife Sharon and I lost our son Drew after he suffered a brain haemorrhage. Before we were even asked to donate his organs, Sharon immediately requested that we do so. We set up ‘Life after Drew’ as my wife Sharon wanted to create something that would become a legacy synonymous with our son Drew’s name. Since we experienced this first hand, we felt that we needed to create more awareness on the subject of organ donation, also acting as an education campaign in which people were encouraged to discuss this sensitive subject whilst simultaneously paying tribute to Drew and the many, many people who – like him – gave others a second chance of life. How was the campaign received? The campaign was very well received, and the original target was to reach 100,000 people with our message. This target was overwhelmingly surpassed, since even one interview on TVM news has that level of viewership, let alone the 93 interactions that have been held over the past months. The campaign was a 360° one that included a multitude of television interviews, radio interviews, Facebook campaigns, Google campaigns, bus advertising, billboard advertising, newspaper interviews, a fine arts exhibition, a performing arts performance, promotional visits to Her Excellency The President of Malta and His Grace the Archbishop of Malta and visits to various schools and businesses, as well as online interviews. The business community, as well as the general public, were deeply touched by Drew’s big heart and came together genuinely offering their support in myriad ways, […]

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