A heroic gift

Every year in Denmark one the country's biggest newpapers Morgenavisen Jyllandsposten nominate 10 regular people as heroes in collaboration with Trygfonden (Safety Foundation). It is up to the readers of the paper and the general public to decide who should get the honor of calling him or herself hero 2010 and be rewarded with a 100.000 kr. check. I am very proud to annouce that this year one of the people on the list are an alive kidney donor.

This contest is set up to honor everyday people who do something extraordinary for someone they may or may not know. Ruth Birk was named the hero in 2009 for her work to support the families of danish soldiers at war. I've always admired this contest because it rewards people that normally wouldn't consider themselves as heroes aswell as inspire others to step up and help others where it is needed.

This year the nominees hold lots of potential heroes fx. 2 teens boys who saved 2 young girls from drowning in a pool this summer, a young woman who founded girltalk.dk which is a place where teen girls can get advice and help on big and small problems, but the one person I really think deserves to be called a hero this year is a guy called Brian Madsen.

Brian Madsen's friend and colleague Jens Staal for 15 years is suffering from diabetes and the disease was tough on his kidneys which made him worse and worse. Eventually it became clear that the grueling dialysis for life was the only option if a donor kidney was not found for Staal. So Brian Madsen stepped in. He let himself be tested and he was a match. On the 10th of August he gave his friend the gift of life in form of a kidney and he says he would do it again and even that he is sad that he doesn't have another kidney to share if he's friend should ever need another transplant, which hopefully will not happen for another 20-25 years. This man is a hero in my eyes and he deserves to be recognized as one, so if you are from Denmark please vote for him as Hero 2010 here: http://www.aaretshelt.dk/afstemning/