THE Somerset skyline was bathed in pink on Monday night (September 23) to mark Organ Donation Week.
Wellington Monument was lit up in perfect pink to mark the occasion, with NHS staff from Musgrove Park Hospital joining National Trust volunteers at the landmark.
Organ Donation Week runs from September 23 to 29, in the year the NHS Organ Donor Register celebrates its 30th birthday.
As a result, 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.
As part of the celebrations, the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is 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 #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 nine lives one organ donor can save.
To join the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust #Race4Recipients team, visit raceforrecipients.com/teams/138. The challenge is active until midnight on Sunday, September 29, and all distances must be logged by midnight on the day.
NHS staff joined National Trust volunteers for the occasion
Dr James Sidney, a consultant anaesthetist at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “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, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s lead bereavement and medical examiner officer, and a member of the #Race4Recipients team, said: “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.”
Wellington Monument, the tallest three-sided obelisk in the world, will again be lit up on Sunday, September 29, and visitors are welcome.
National Trust volunteer Anita Kacerovskis added: “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.”
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