Famous Cornish landmarks to be lit up pink for Organ Donation Week
A cathedral, a castle and the 'nearly home' trees are among the sites to be illuminated
Last updated 26th Sep 2022
Four iconic Cornish landmarks are being illuminated this week to raise awareness of Organ Donation Week 2022.
The buildings will be 'lit up' in pink, the colour of the country's 'Yes I Donate' organ donation campaign, to inspire people to tell their families that they want to be a donor and to register their decision.
Those being illuminated are St Mawes Castle and Huer's Hut in Newquay on 26th September, Truro Cathedral on 27th September and St Ives Chapel on 29th September, organised by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust.
The Devon team arranged to light up the 'nearly home' trees at Cookworthy Dip on the Devon and Cornwall border on Friday 30th September.
St Michael's Mount at Marazion has also been illuminated, to "shine a light on the incredible difference organ donation can make".
Nationally, someone dies every day in need of an organ, and there are almost 7,000 people currently on the active transplant waiting list.
There are currently more than 30 million people in the UK who have registered their organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register with more than 27 million of them explicitly agreeing to be an organ donor when they die, but this still only represents around 44% of the UK population.
The law around organ donation has now changed to an ‘opt out’ system across England, Scotland and Wales, but family members will still always be involved before organ donation goes ahead.
Officials say this means it is just as important as ever to register your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and ensure your friends and family know what you want and will support your decision.
Rebecca Tolmon, Organ Donation Specialist Nurse at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust said "Simply put, organ donation saves and transforms lives. This organ donation week we want to inspire family conversations and registrations by putting Cornish communities at the heart of our campaign".
With a background in both critical care and palliative care nursing Rebecca is able to support families to make sure their loved one receives end of life care in line with their wishes and the type of person they were.
If organ donation is right for that person, their family and loved ones then Rebecca is able to support them through the whole process by working closely with the Critical Care team.
She added: "It can be hard to start these conversations but I'd like to reassure people that families will always be involved if organ donation is a possibility and by having these difficult conversations it means your loved ones will be certain what your decision is. Whatever you decide about organ donation, leave your family certain".
The campaign dates were moved forward one week to respect the national mourning period following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The buildings will be illuminated between 7.30pm and 10pm.
You can read more about this year's Organ Donation Week on the NHS website.