AN East End cabbie has been giving free lifts to people who sign up to the NHS s Organ Donor register. Ted Goodchild, of Grove Road, Bethnal Green has been driving around town in an NHS Blood and Transplant branded cab and for two days last week waived th

AN East End cabbie has been giving free lifts to people who sign up to the NHS's Organ Donor register.

Ted Goodchild, of Grove Road, Bethnal Green has been driving around town in an NHS Blood and Transplant branded cab and for two days last week waived the fares for Londoners who signed up to the register while in his taxi.

Ted Said: "I had someone from the NHS in the cab with me who was giving information to people and helping them fill in the forms.

"I've got two friends who have recently had transplants so I wanted to get as many people to sign up as possible.

"Without transplants my friends wouldn't be here today."

Ted's lifelong friend John Beaumont has suffered from cystic fibrosis all his life and had a heart and lung transplant a year ago. He also had a kidney transplant just three weeks ago and Ted said he is now doing well.

Another friend Pat Bird, also a cab driver was having regular dialysis for around 10 years before his kidney transplant a year ago.

Ted said: "He had one before but it didn't work out but they tried again and he's much better now and back at work."

Of the 20,000 black cabs in London today, only the Ted's Lift for Life cab was offering free journeys last week.

Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation Sally Johnson said: "We've seen a big rise in number of people in London signing up but it's still not enough.

"Three people die every day, so even if you didn't find the Organ Donor cab, please take two minutes to join your fellow Londoners on the Organ Donor Register and sign up today."

There are 1,838 people in London waiting for an organ transplant and only 22.8 per cent of Londoners are on the register.

An average of three people in London die every day while waiting for organs.