NHS colleagues light up Wellington Monument for Organ Donation Week

Colleagues from Musgrove Park Hospital were joined yesterday evening (Monday 23 September) by National Trust volunteers as they lit up Wellington Monument to mark Organ Donation Week (23-29 September).

This year the NHS Organ Donor Register celebrates its 30th birthday, and people are being encouraged to ‘think pink’ and dress, decorate and embrace the colour, to help raise awareness of the incredible gift of organ donation, and to encourage people to confirm their decision on the register.

Organ Donation Week is one of the key points in the calendar year when members of the public join to talk about, celebrate, and highlight the significance of organ donation.

It's a great opportunity to educate and build knowledge, and remind people of the need to add their name to the organ donor register, as well as talk to their family.

As part of the celebrations, we are taking part in the #Race4Recipients challenge, which has been designed to raise awareness of organ donation, while also getting people active.

The race distance could be achieved through any kind of activity which involves getting active (above normal day to day activity) and travelling a measurable distance.

All the #Race4Recipients targets are meaningful milestones that relate to an important number related to organ donation. For example, travelling 9km is a distance that represents the 9 lives one organ donor can save.

To join our NHS #Race4Recipients team, you can follow the link here: https://raceforrecipients.com/teams/138. The challenge is active until midnight on Sunday 29 September, and all distances must be logged by midnight on the day.

Dr James Sidney, one of our consultant anaesthetists, says: “This is a week in which we promote organ donation in the UK, so landmarks across the country, such as the Wellington Monument, are being lit up in pink to encourage people to sign up to the donor register.

“Despite the strives that have been made in organ donation over the last decade or so, over 400 people died last year waiting for a transplant and every single donation that we can facilitate is really precious and potentially life saving or life transforming for someone waiting for this type of surgery.”

Helen Waldon, our lead bereavement and medical examiner officer, and a member of the #Race4Recipients team, adds: “I’ve heard so many stories from organ and tissue recipients about the life changing effect it’s had, not just on them, but on their family and friends too.

“The death of a loved one and the grief that ensues can be incredibly painful, but out of that grief some people choose to give an amazing gift which allows others to have hope.

“In the words of the Princess of Wales – “out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright”.

“With #Race4Recipients we want to raise the awareness of organ donation and encourage people to speak to their families and share their wishes.

“If you want to get involved with Organ Donation Week in the local community, why not visit the Wellington Monument, on the edge of the Blackdown Hills, which will be lighting the skies pink to support the campaign, on Monday 23 and Sunday 29 September.”

“And don’t forget, if you’re interesting in finding out more or signing up for the Organ Donation Register, you can do so here: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/donate/?”

Anita Kacerovskis, a National Trust volunteer, adds: “The National Trust is always keen to get involved with organisations to help them with awareness drives, and we felt that organ donation was exceptionally important. We’re very happy to be part of it by turning our lovely monument pink.”