Life.
The most amazing gift of all.
Every year hundreds of lives are saved as a direct result of organ donation. Hundreds more lives are changed and enhanced through tissue donation.
To pay tribute to the donors and their families who made the gift of life possible, The Donor Family Network have created a National Organ Donor Memorial.
The Gift of Life Memorial is situated at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire and encompasses 3 main themes:
Reflection – a place of quiet and natural beauty for reflection and contemplation. For all those whose lives have been touched by organ donation:
- Those people for whom the call never came, those who died waiting for a transplant because of the tragic shortage of organs available.
- Those who have received organs and tissue for whom gratitude and thanks are simply inadequate.
- Those who work in the field of organ donation and transplantation.
- For all those who support organ donation
Recognition – where the precious gift of life is recognised as an altruistic, life affirming, life changing act of kindness and generosity.
Remembrance – where all are remembered and they are remembered by all. Those who wished to be donors but whose wishes could not be fulfilled are also remembered with gratitude. The project includes an on-line Book of Remembrance where tributes may have been written in memory of donors by their families and anonymously by their recipients.
Photo credits to Martin Hill Photography, Sarah Brooks Photography and Donor Family Network.