The Bath Chronicle is very proud this week to launch our new campaign to encourage as many local people as possible to sign up to become organ donors.

We have been sparked into launching the campaign now because our city is due to hold the British Transplant Games later this year.

Even in a sports-mad city, the transplant games stand out as one of the most remarkable sporting activities we will see in 2010. All the people who take part have one thing in common – they have received the donation of an organ which has not only made many of them more active but in many cases has saved their lives as well.

This will be the second time the games have come to the city and the reason for the athletes' return is that they received such a warm welcome from Bath people on their previous visit.

For all of them, however, the best thing that we, as local people, can do to show how much we care for what has happened to them, is to give the 'gift of life' ourselves by signing up on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

To do so is an incredibly simple process – but the effect it can have can be absolutely astonishing on people we may never know.

If you read the story of one such person, Lynda Smith on page four of today's paper, you can see just what an incredible impact an organ donation can give to somebody like her.

So sign up today and join our campaign.

For as we enter Valentine's weekend, what greater act of love could you offer than the gift of life?