They were aiming to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation and encourage Muswellbrook Shire residents to register.

Both have seen organ transplant dramatically improve lives of loved ones – for Mrs Lanesbury, her daughter; and Mr Doherty, his nephew.

The pair hope to see more than 500 people in Muswellbrook register as organ donors by December 31.

This Donate Life Week – July 31 to August 7 – they are sending their message to fellow residents.

“We really want to get the word out there to get people to register; to have the conversation with their family, which is really, really important; and help promote Donate Life Week by sharing it around,” Mrs Lanesbury said.

“If we’ve got five or 500 we’ve already won.”

A Facebook page – Organ Donorship 2333-2328 Project 500 – was created for the purpose of the campaign.

“It’s been well received; people are responding to it,” Mr Doherty said.

“We’re very happy with the response.”

There is no age barrier for donor registration, and those who previously registered through the Roads and Maritime Services (formerly the RTA) will need to re-register through Donate Life or Medicare.

“It’s a very, very simple form and it can be posted back postage free,” Mr Doherty said of the Medicare registration.

During Donate Life Week, people are being encouraged to discover the facts about organ and tissue donation, decide and register on the Australian Organ Donor Register, and discuss their donation decision with family and friends.

To keep up to date with the local group’s efforts, find Organ Donorship 2333-2328 Project 500 on Facebook.

To register, visit www.donorregister.gov.au