The Coming Home Trees were lit up in pink as part of a Cornwall-wide initiative to mark National Organ Donation Week (26th September-2nd October).
Pink is the colour of the 'Yes I Donate' organ donation campaign, inspiring people to become a donor, which saves countless lives. Nationally, someone dies every day when needing an organ transplant, with around 7,000 on the transplant waiting list.
There are currently 30-million people in the UK who have registered their organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, with more than 27-million agreeing to become a donor when they die - but this still only represents just 44% of the UK's population.
Even though the law around organ donation has now changed to an ‘opt out’ system across England, Scotland and Wales, family members will still always be involved before organ donation goes ahead. 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.
Organ donation saves and transforms lives, so it was a special moment when the Coming Home Trees were lit up in pink as part of this movement. The symbol of lighting the trees up is to honour the donors and their families, as well as encouraging people to have conversations around organ donation with their families, who are always involved if organ donation is a possibility. By having these difficult conversations, your loved ones will be certain what your decision is.