Landmarks light up pink for Organ Donation Week

To help raise awareness of Organ Donation Week (Monday 21 to Sunday 27 September) our clock tower and Rochester Castle will be lit-up pink all week.

The spire of Rochester Cathedral will also be illuminated in the same colour on Thursday 24 September.

Pink is the colour of NHS Blood and Transplant’s ‘Yes I Donate’ organ donation campaign, which aims to encourage people to confirm their organ donation decision by adding their name to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Thanks to the generosity of three donors and their families, nine patients were able to receive a life-saving or life-changing transplant facilitated by Medway Maritime Hospital between 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. Additionally, 14 corneas were received by NHS Blood and Transplant eye banks from the hospital.

The Organ Donor Register was set up to promote organ donation and allow people to record their decision to donate. It was the result of a five-year campaign by John Cox and his daughter Christine after their son and brother, Peter, died in 1989. He had asked for his organs to be used to help others.

When someone dies in the circumstances where they could be a donor, it is now assumed that they agree to donate if they haven’t officially opted out. However, no-one is automatically added to the Organ Donor Register. People still need to confirm their decision and their family will be consulted before donation goes ahead.

In the South East, 45 per cent of the population have registered an NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR) opt in decision, compared to 43 per cent of the population nationally.

While 425 people benefited from a solid organ transplant in the South East in 2025/26, sadly, 43 people died on the transplant waiting list during this time.

Dr Gill Fargher, Chair of the hospital’s Organ and Tissue Donation Committee, has been an advocate and champion for organ donation since the sudden and tragic death of her beloved husband Tristan, known as Tris, in January 2015.

She said: “Confirming your decision to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register makes it clear to your family that you want to be an organ donor, leaving them certain of your decision at what is a difficult and emotional time.

“We need more people in Medway and Swale to confirm their decision on the register today in order to save more lives now and in the future. Every donation is precious and can make such a difference.”

To find out more and confirm your decision, visit the NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk. Users of the NHS app, can also use this to record, check or amend their details or decision.