Film cast may help Katie live

courtesy of the South Wales Argus - 3 July 2003

THE stars of the hit Lord of the Rings films could help save a former Newport dad's baby daughter.

Andy Tookey's daughter Katie needs a life-saving liver transplant - but her operation is being held up by the organ donation system in his new home country of New Zealand. Now, he and Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson are joining forces to make a television commercial about organ donation.

There are hopes the commercial will feature some of the cast of the hit Lord of the Rings films - and will have an international message so it could be shown further afield. Forty-year-old Mr Tookey moved to New Zealand from Newport six years ago with his wife Janice, 38, and son Brad, then aged three.

When Katie was born 21 months ago, it was discovered she was suffering from a rare liver disease and needed a transplant.

But the number of organ donations in New Zealand is among the lowest in the developed world.

Mr Tookey started lobbying politicians about the situation and, as his campaign gathered pace, was offered the support of film director Peter Jackson.

"Peter is currently filming extra scenes for his next Lord of the Rings film and I have been down to the set to watch some of the filming and to discuss the commercial which will be shot on the set," Mr Tookey told the Argus.

"M & C Saatchi, the famous advertising agency, has written the commercial for me for free. The value of the commercial up to now, even before I get it on air, is estimated to be worth $350,000.

"The odd think is, that even though the Ministry of Health is getting this for free, ministers won't back it because they had no control of it."

He is determined to help improve the situation so that New Zealand will eventually have a world- class organ donation system.

"Katie is doing fine at the present, though she will still need a transplant at some point. I hope she is one of the 50 per cent who get a liver transplant," said Mr Tookey. New Zealand's organ donor programme operates primarily through the consent option on drivers' licences and has not been embraced by the public.

Mr Tookey believes there is insufficient funding available to educate the public about organ donation.

Liver transplant unit director Professor Stephen Munn said about 350 New Zealanders were waiting for an organ transplant, according to a report in the Dominion Post.

PICTURED: Katie with her brothers Brad, nine,and baby Gregg.