Keighley Cougars chairman Howard Carter has made a passionate appeal to supporters to carry the NHS organ donor card.

The devout Christian went on to the Cougar Park pitch before the game against Widnes on Sunday and asked fans to pray for Katherine Ireland, the Cononley teenager who has cystic fibrosis. His appeal followed the Keighley News' plea last week for people to 'carry the card' to help people like Katherine.

Mr Carter told the 2,300 crowd that the 19-year-old could have only six months to live if she did not get the double lung transplant she was waiting for. Only a successful transplant can give her several more years.

Katherine, an Air Training Cadet (ATC) warrant officer, attended the game with family, friends and other members of the ATC to hand out 1,000 donor registration forms.

Mr Carter, who is also president of Keighley ATC, asked fans to think about carrying the card. He told the Keighley News it was the least he could do to help: "I told the fans I realised it was a hard decision to make, but they too could be in the same position sometime."

Katherine says the Cougars now have a new fan. "What a day!" she says. "I have never been to a rugby game before and it was brilliant. The Cougars really looked after us and Mr Carter was very helpful. I was shattered afterwards but I would like to watch them again."

Katherine's mum Jan agreed. "We went to give leaflets out and never expected to see the game," she says. "But they could not do enough for us. They definitely have two new fans."

Jan also thanks all who helped to give out the leaflets. "Everyone has been magnificent," she says.

The Keighley News is backing the family's efforts to try to find a suitable donor which could save her life.

Last week Katherine, who has battled against cystic fibrosis since she was a five-month-old baby, pleaded with readers to carry the organ donor card to give her and others the chance to live. The former South Craven pupil has seen two of her close friends die in the last few weeks from the same illness. Both were waiting for transplant operations.

Katherine has been waiting for a transplant since October and carries a bleeper that will go off if the hospital finds a lung match for her. An ambulance will pick her up and take her straight to Newcastle's Freemans Hospital where the surgery will take place.

If you want to help you can ring Jan or Katherine on 635471 or 0411 099917 and they will deliver a form and a donor card to you. All forms can be returned Freepost. Alternatively you can pick up a form from your local doctor or chemist.

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